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Herod: 



A Historical Tragedy, 



IN FIVE ACTS. 



BY 



HENRY ILIOWIZI, 



Author of "Sol." 



fe;^^' -^^^ 



HEROD: 



A TRAGEDY. 



By henry ILIOWIZI, 



AUTHOR OF SOL. 




MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 
1884. 



Nor^.^,, 



Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1884, by 

Henry Iliowizi, 

In ihe office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



Printed at the Tiiliuiio Book 
Koums, Minueapulis, Minn. 



SOL: 

An Epic Poem 

BY 

REV. HENRY ILIOWIZI. 



St. Paul Pioneer Press .-—The author treats the subject with much 
poetical vigor. Beautiful similes abound. Scenes are vividly set forth. 
Of course in a work of this kind there must be a suggestion of the 
Divine Comedy, but nevertheless this poem is filled with fresh concep- 
tions eloquently expressed. 

Chicago Journal .—Mr. Iliowizi's poem, which is the work of years, 
will be read with interest and pleasure, not only by the people of his 
own race, but by the Christian also. 

The Occident, of Chicago:— The author exhibits a dexterous pen in giv- 
ing the tragical end of Sol. The lines run smoothly, and much poetic 
fervor is lent to each canto. Altogether, it presents a very interesting 
volume, which is neatly printed, aud, though not wholly free from typo- 
graphical mistakes, will prove a welcome adjunct to modern literature. 

The Messenger, of New York :— These thrilling incidents have been 
skillfully seized upon by the author for his epic. * * * Throughout the 
book the author displays a force aud eloquence which are promising for 
his future. His style is often pithy and epigramatic, * * * and we feel 
confident that with study and practice his promising literary gifts will 
give him a worthy place among writers of the day. 

The Interior, of Chicago :— It is certain that Eabbi Iliowizi has given 
us an epic marked by rare poetical ability,— a grand poem which, while 
felicitously and powerfully portraying the aspirations, the hopes, the 
sufferings, and the traditions of his own people in connection with the 
sad end of Sol, the heroic maiden, forcibly appeals to the warm sympa- 
thies and kindly feelings of all Christian people. Gentiles and Jews 
will read this remarkable epic with almost equal pleasure. All admirers 
of epic poetry will appreciate and enjoy its majestic movement, its vivid 
descriptions and its glowing imagery. 



To the magnanimous guide and benefactor of my youth, 

DR. BJERWALD, 

Director of the Philanthropic Institution in Frankfort-on-the- 
Main, this production is gratefully inscribed : 



My dearest and most revered friend. ■ 

The first and most precious benefit I derive Jrom thts insignificant composition is 
the dear opportunity it affords me to inform the world that, but for your generosity and 
almost fatherly care, I should most probably be one oj those unfortunate and unfriended 
beings whoselife is a burden to themselves and mankind. Severed from the semi-barbar- 
ous land of my birth and thrown into this world without the least preparation /or it» 
unavoidable struggle, you havelifted me from the depth of misery, endured and patiently 
corrected the aberrations of my youth, brought me near the best sources of learning, and 
put me beyond the reach of want until a training of ten years spent under your 
auspices enabled me to face independently the problem of this existence. The longer I 
am away from you, friend of my soul, anHihe more the selfish qualities of man^s nature 
become a matter of fact to me, the deeper grows m,y gratitude to you, and the greater my 
admiration of that sweet benigni/y which is the essential feature of your truly humane 
and great character. Your life is a pure mirror refecting everything that is divine in 
m,an; an ideal to which one may aspire, but which is too lofty for the average mortal. 
May the Lord bless and preserve you for the good oJ that vast circle of grateful friends 
and enthusiastic followers, one of tohom I shall in deep devotion, respect and gratitude 

■ever be proud to be. 

HENBT ILIOWIZl. 
Minneapolis, Minn., April 1, 1884. 



ARGUMENT. 



Herod, having received the crown of Jndea from the hand of Rome, takes 
JerusUem by assault, assisted by Sosuis. the Roman general. Although married to 
a princess of the great Asmonean line. Herod, fearirg the popularity of this rtyal 
house, resolves to remove all tl ose who have a claim to the throne he usurped; 
prominent among whom is Hyrcanos. the Queen Mariamne's grand^ire, and Aristoba- 
1ns, her young brother. Having disposed of Antigonus. the conquered and captive 
King of Israel whom Sosuis leads away in chains. Herod, encouraged by the au.«pic- 
ious prophecy of Manahem. after promoting Aristobulus to the rank of High Priest, 
causes him to be drowned, and succeeds, under a plausible pretext, to execute 
Hyrcanus, whom, by captivating promises he lares from Parthia, where the priest 
lived exiled. These proceedings exasperate Mariamne against Herod, and her 
hatred becomes uncontrollable on learning that the Kirg, being summoned 
before Antony to account for Aristobulus" death, secretly ordered Jrseph. his sis- 
ter's husband, to slay the Queen in case Antony would slay h.m. Find ng on his return 
the Queen in a sta; e of exasperation, and hearing that Jcseph has betrayed the secret, 
Herod, who first doubted S ilome's insinuations against her husband's and Mariamne's 
fidelity, is now convinced that a criminal intimacy existed between his wife, the 
Queen, and -Joseph, whose d^^capitation he orders at once, Joseph's persistence, how- 
ever, in denying his guUt to the last, unsettles the conviction of the Kicg, who, 
dreading the possibility of the Queen becoming an iimocent victim of his jealousy, 
hastens to revoke the order of Mariamne's execution: but the mef senger comes too 
late to arrest the axe of the headsman, and Herod's grief for his adored wife assumes 
the nature of wild despair. He slays Sabion, who is. by accident, the bearer of 
the dark tidings: would not hear that the Queen was dead, and stibs Enrycles, 
whose words confirm her fall, and who was instrumental in bringing about 
her sad end. The dying wretch reveals the treacherot:s scheme laid by Salome for 
the ruin of the Queen she hated and her husband, and Herod's despair vents itself 
in his trying to end his life, in which he is prevented by hia brother, Pheroras. 



DRAMATIS PERSONS, 



Hekod, King of Judea. 

Maeiamne, his wife and Queen. 

Alexandra, her mother. 

Abistobulus, her brother, son of Alexandra, High Priest for a while. 

Hyrc vnus, ex-High Priest, father of Alexandra. 

Pherobas, Herod's brother. 

Salome, his sister. 

Joseph, Salome'.s husband, treasurer of Herod. 

Cypbos, Herod's mother. 

ANTiGONtrs, ex-King of Judea. 

Diophantus, Herod's sEcretary. 

Sabamellas, his ambassadoi . 

CoEiNTHUS, his captain of the guards. 

Phabatus, his steward. 

EcRYCLES, a creature. 

Phraates, King of Parthia. 

Sosius, :i Roman general. 

Sabion, confidant of Alexandra. 

.35SOP, her servant. 

Matthias, the High Priest. 
Jddas Seripheus, a teacher of the law. 

Manahem, a leader of the Essenes. 
A physician, captains, headsmen, messengers, citizens, scholars, a deputation of 

elders, guards, children, and other persons. 

The scene is mainly in Jerusalem, with the exception of three scenes, one laid 
in Jericho, the other in Parlhia, the third in Athens. 



HEROD. 



ACT I. 

SCENE I. 

Jerusalem. A room in the palaee. 

Enter Herod, Pheroras, Diophantus, Corinthus, ami a tvaiii of 
avhied officers, ua coming fn.m the fight. 

Uerod. Ungirt my sword, Corinlbus; bid the guards 
Deny access to the oppressed crowds; 
But frjeuds well tried admittance have to us, 
Though not with our consent the Romans slay. 

[Corinthus ungirts Herod onO, leaves with the officers. 

Pher. This hour to rest be given, king; the task 
Most arduous in its kind is done, and now 
Our allies teach thy foes obey; the tongues 
That loud against thy rule declaimed are mute. 

Her. This bloody harvest lames our kingdom's weal, 
Pheroras. Have we the power not ourselves 
Of minor fo6s our throne to rid, now that 
The head of them is in the Roman's grip '? 
Proceed at once the legions' harshness check! 
Haste, prince, haste all, and curb the slayers' rage, 
Even before I Sosius meet. — Outline 
A list of them to be removed, and let 
The treacherous heads me count before they fall — 

{Aside to Pheroras.) 
Go, send me Sosius here, who deals as if 
He lightly rated our supreme command. 
We shall bespeak him plain whom Antony 
To conquer not to slay this people sent. 

[Exeunt Pheroms and Diophantus. 
Thus are my visions verified at last. 
And I am lifted on great Solomon's throne, 
With Rome as pillar to uphold my state ! 
When gods combine the mortal to extol, 
To raise the lowly to some lofty height, 
They first with soaring instincts him endow. 
The heart to wish, the boldness to aspire, 
The nerve to strive, the triumph to achieve, 
And rule he will whom heavenly powers back ! 



10 H E E D . 

Thus crowned with victory the diadem 

I hold, and no proud Asmonean shall wrest 

It from my grasp ! The high priest not, the sword 

Now sways the world, Hyrcanus, and thy days 

Of sanctimonious fame are past. A man 

Of humble parentage thy priestly robe 

Shall wear with all the mystic signs which thrill 

The slavish crowds. Thy trimmed ears, old man, 

Jehovah will by miracles not round. 

And he thy place shall fill whom Herod's whim 

With sanctity invests. — Yet nearer me 

That ex-priest I prefer, where less his right 

To his inheritance I apprehend 

Than while he dwelleth at the Parthian court. 

A call of love will hither lure him soon 

Where at my ease I may dispose of him. — 

The royal offsprings yet by scores must go 

Ere I Judea can my kingdom call, 

Aad joyous hearts will break with grief and woe 

By anguish rent for those who still must fall. 

What comes — Corinthus? [Enter Corinthus. 

Cor. Man ahem begs to see 

The King, and so he urges that with him 
I beg. 

Her. Let him appear who upright is in heart 
And ill the stars the future's course can read. — [Enter Manahem. 
The possible be thine. Manahem, speak! 

Mana. King, fear the Ruler of thy destiny ; 
With dead the town is cloyed, the lanes with gore. 
The heathens slay the mother and the babe, 
Defile the Sanctuary's sacred seats, 
The virgin outrage, plunder every house, 
And thou art sileut, hast no word for them 
Whose guiltless blood may imprecations call 
Upon those hordes who thus thy cause befoul! 

Her. Shame od those warriors who such havoc make! 
Accuse me not, oh righteous maa, my heart 
Not less doth for Judea bleed than thine. 
It is Jerusalem my capital 
They devastate, and those they slay are all 
My subjects dear. Twelve messengeis are out 
To seek the chief and Sosius, ere a while, 
I here expect. Yet curse not such as deal 
With you as foes; that prince condemn who by 
His treason brought on you this woe. Not me, 
Manahem, not Herod, but Antigonus 
Arraign, who is now punished for his base 
Designs. 

Mana. Not all the wrong is his, my lord, 
Though many are the errors of that prince. 
He for the kingdom of his fathers strove 
And no allegiance to the Roman owed; 
But Heaven decreed it so, and so it be. 

Her. His brother's birthright boldly he usurped, 
And Israel's high priest he outraging maimed. 
Five hundred maidens he to Parthia gave 
Had I not thwarted his atrocious plans. 



HEROD. 11 

The martyr's death through him my Phasael died, 
Whose blood to Heaven loud for vengeance cries! 

Mana. His fate is sealed ; I know Antigouus 
By pagan hand must fall, and thus the last 
Of great Asmoneus' brilliant house will end, 
A captive with no child, no friend, no priest 
To weep a tear or for his body care. — 
Be moved, O king, by that mysterious Might 
Who plays with thrones as boys with insects play; 
Be moved, and grant the satisfaction me 
Of being near dim when abroad he dies; 
For nothing done is in this nether world 
Of which a record is not kept above. 

Her. And wouldst thou follow him to Rome and see 
Him there Anton i us' triumph grace ? Bethink 
Thyself, it is a distant way. 

Mana. Thy care 

Will not permit him Italy to view; 
And were it otherwise I should to Rome 
Accompany the prince. 

Her. Manahem, thou art 

A man inspired by the Lord; in me 
Thy prophecies are verified; I am 
Judea's king as thou didst once foretell, 
Thou shalt not vainly wish, if I can help; 

Antigonus shall die by thee consoled. — [Exit Manahem. 

Thus smile the stars and victory and Rome 
On me, and thou, Antigonus, art doomed 
To be the worm's repast, to disappear 
When Herod says Depart ! Yea, Rome, thou shalt 
Not see, nor have a chance to plead thy cause 
Much stronger than the mine if justice ruled. — 
Or should I mine plebeian birth compared 
See with his line, his right to reign see on 
The scale with mine? Antipater, my sire. 
Would in his grave blush at his dotish boy 
If I on claims would dare my throne to found. 
The world with fallen royalty may sigh, 
But hath no sympathy with upstart knaves 
Who rise by force and must by force subsist. 
Thus force shall bring thee to the dust, my prince! 
Antonius must in this my purpose serve; 

The others here I sliaU in time remove, [Enter Sosius- 

And clear this nest of its patrician brood. — 
There Sosius comes, who shall my ends promote — 
What means that slaughter of the infants, man ? 
Art thoti here sent with girls and babps to war, 
So slay my people, plunder house and fane 
And leave me monarch of a desert land? 
The Roman empire can that blood not pay 
Thy wild centurians shed in vain this day. 

Sos. The worst is done the warrior to appease. 
Who of his triumphs jiistly claims a share. 
They are restrained who thus the king displeased. 

Her. Not one of them shall leave my kingdom poor, 
But none should say that Herod's friends are such 
As reverence lack for innocence and gods- 



12 HEROD. 

To Eome my crown, to her I friendship owe 
And would not thus her glory tarnish'd see 
By acts barbaiians would too cruel deem. 

Sos Such licence, king, the Roman oversees. 
The soldier's life is fraught with risk and pain; 
Each day. each hour new dangers he must face, 
Must ghastly death in thousand shapes confront, 
Without the prospect of a peaceful grave. 
And this for them who crowns and sceptres crave; 
What price can pay such self-denying zeal ? 

He7\ No pri(!e buys valor which a world subdues. 

Sos Which asks not who but where the foe doth lie, 
And shrinks not back when orders bid to die. 

Her. The Roman warrior will the wonder be 
Of generations yet to come, and learn 
What giant races ruled in olden times. 
If I on prowess could rely as this 
How easy would my head and slumbers be. 

Sos. Thy friends are wakeful while thou art asleep; 
What Rome hath given she but can retract; 
Her friends against a world she can protect 

Her. My crown she can, my head she cannot save. 
My breast once pierced she could not knit again. 
And this — oh let me plainly speak — this haunts 
Me day and night as long as he 

-Sos. As he ? 

Who is the he alarming Herod's rest? 
Her. As long as I Antigonus must fear. — 

Sos. Can Herod fear a craven, captive prince! 

Her. Stood he within my dagger's reach I feared 
Him not 

Sos. What is it Herod fears? 

Her. There lives 

No being in this world I trulv fear 
Who fear no death. But lifted on a throne 
There is the million-headed beast untamed, 
A monster knowing no surcease in rage, 
Eeseiging me with poison in its look. 
That beast whom Brutus dreaded makes me think. 
Good Sosius; mark— the rabble is for him. 

Sos. The rabble! Cannot Judea's dregs be quelled. 
He being far? 

Her. Will never rest until they know 

Him in the dark beyond. They will not rest 
But plague me with unending schemes and plots 
And this would make a Caesar shrug with doubt. 

Sns. Antonius is thy friend, and what in this 
I in thy favor may secure depend 
On me. 

Her. Nay, all thy favors would be crowned 
By this, without which all, I grieve to say. 
Are half. His death alone our triumph makes 
Complete. 

Sos. Count on a soldier's word. 

Her. [grafsping Sosius' hand.\ Here with 
This hand accept my grateful heart! Twelve loads 
Of gold I to thy care entrust, let four 



H E K O D . 13 

Be thine, the rest thy master's due; aud ere 
Thy valiant legious Jerusalem forsake 
A tifly talents shall their zeal reward. 

Sos. I thank thee, monarch, tor the royal gifts, 
And shall remember what I Herod owe. [Will go. 

Her. One word.— A pious man, a favorite 
Of mine, Manahem, who my rule foretold 
Some twenty years ago, predicting came 
To me, imploring that he may be there 
Where fate decreed Antigonus should fall. 

Allow that man the captive to approach, *• 

His ardor being to console the prince. 

Sos. Tlie gu ird shall be instructed on this point. [Exit. 

Her. Now thee I seek, sweet goddess of my soul, 
Mariamne, princess of my self and all. 
In my new crown thou art the precious gem; 
Thy love is more than this world's diadem! 

SCENE II. 

A room. 
Enter Diophantus with papers, and Saramellas. 

Diophantus. Thou hast no time to waste, Saramellas; 
The king dislikes in this affair delay; 
The message should be there and answer here 
Before the moon is full. Art thou prepared 
To start for Parthia's court?. 

Saramellas. Prepared! Who could 

In minutes for an embassy prepare? 
I am surprised that I am chosen for • 

The mission named. I would another had 
The trust reluctant to my peaceful mood. 

Dio The king is restless till he Parthia knows 
Appeased, knows old Hyrcanus out of Phraates 
Reach. Get here the priest, the monarch wills 
No more. Thy prudence use as ladder to 
Thy fortune's top. 

Sara. I go unwilling to 

The Parthian court; I loathe Pacorus more 
Than he doth Rome: yet meet I shall that chief 
And him who rules, aud face all perils which 
The task beset, although the prize is but 
An ear-trimm'd priest. 

Dio. Whom thou must promise half 

Of Herod's throne who sends for him to pay 
A filial due. 

Sitra. By hugging him until 

He dreams in bliss. 1 have a pity for 

That hoary head whose friends so coarsely do 
His love requite. 

Din. Thou canst not Herod serve 

And Heaven, friend. Like Janus donl>le-faced • 

Thou at this court alone canst thrive; but with 
A conscience whispering in thee thou ait 
Not born a courtier's role to play. Go, climb 
Thy hill. This turn of times leaves room for lords 



14 H E K D . 

To rise or those who wisely serve their ends. 

Let grandam scruples not thy mind desturb 

Nor virtuous sickness pale thy prospects bright. 

Thy rule be caution, thy reward success. 

Farewell! The hour is pressing and the task 

Undone. Farewell, and here these letters take. [Exit. 

Sara. Farewell, shrewd man, Saramellas no guilt 
Will on his conscienca load. A courtier may 
Yet thrive and be a mm. I let these letters 
But not my speech suspectless age decoy. 
I see the plot against the luckless prince 
Whom I should lure into a guileful snare. 
I nor my skill shall nor my suasion strain 
If thou, Hyrcanus, wilt the bait disdain; 
But age is dotish when the passions sway. 
And thou, I fear, wilt Herod's call obey. [Exit. 

SCENE III. 

A street in Jerusalem. 
Enter Citizens from different sides. 

1st Citizen, [to one passing by] Stop neighbor, halloo, stop! 
what the deuce! Has he 
The feathered sickness in his limbs?— Stop, Ezra! 
Why, man, one would suppose a Roman close 
Behind thee. — Well, how about the newest news? 
They are away, eh V 

2d at. The Romans ? 

1st at. Yes, the Romans. 

The fever shake'the Romans! Are they all 
Away, the wolfish heathens, nil away? 

2d at. Ay, Gamliel, or sujh an airing would prove hot 
for us. They are all gone, the dogs; have seen 
Myself them marching out of town on foot, 
On horse, by dreaded Sosius led who rode 
Triumphant, while the drums and tiutes discoursed. 

1st at. The pest on Sosius whose insatiate greed 
Was glutted by the tyrant at our cost. 
Four camels bore Judea's gold for him, 
And eight for Antony our treasures took. 
While every soldier got a heavy boon. 
They chased our maidens not and wives in vain, 
Nor slew our babes without the due reward 
By him bestowed who on our marrow lives! 
And we like slaves endure outrageous wrong 
And wonder at the hateful yoke we bear. ' 

3d at. Exasperated once the tribes mil rise 
And shake the bloody tyrant off their neck. 
We are no slaves and shall not bear it loug. 

Otiier Cits. We are no slaves and shall not bear it long. 

1st at. Did ye Antigouus in chains not see 
• Degraded by a bonds '.ave's coarse attire? 

One of tlie crowd. I did, I did! 

Others We did not see him, no! 

2d at. I did, I did as here I f^ee my hand. 
He had his palms upon his royal face 



HEROD. 15 

And linked to a wag:on he paced along, 
Behind a guard, before him Sosius on 
A prancing steed. All who beheld him pass 
Bemourned him as lost. Mauahem was 
With bim. 

All. Manahera ! 

1st at. Ah, Manahem, best 

Of souls! In thee JerusaJem bewails 
An upright heart!— Was he with him ? Why, such 
A man as would for pity's .sake not kill 
A tly disporting on his nose, and nurte 
To patients was whose foul pestiferous couch 
Their nearest kindred frightened from their side! 
Why him, of the Essen es the righteous head. 
Select from thousands tor a bondman's lot, 
Let others answer give. 

2d at No bondman he. 

Digest it better, man; but here the hinge. 
You see how flesh unlike is flesh. Tell me 
To face a Roman or confront a wolf, 
i face the beast; but then a pious man 
Is not of common flesh, and so Manahem. — 
The prince must not unwept be slain, so thought 
Mauahem, and besought the king to speak 
A kindly word for him, which, lieing done, 
He got the privilege to go and weep. 

3d at. He was himself predicting Herod's rule. 

2d at. When clouds are frowning swallows prophesy 
And when it showers fooJs can say : It rains. — 
Had not Hyrcanus such a vampiie nureed 
There would be none to suck his royal blood. 
What can he be, his nursling being king ? 

1st at. Ask better, what, the priesthood being lost? 
His maim unfits him for the sacred trust. 
And gossip says his substitute is named. 

3d Cit Pray who is he destined to rule the Shrine ? 

2d at. I know the man not, though his name I heard. 

3d at. Is he not one of Asmoneus' line 
Whose progeny by right the altar tread? 

2d at. May be, may be, some lines do far extend, 
Although Ananelus no kinship claims 
With the descendants of the Maccabees. [Sahion enters. 

1st at. Ananelus ? Why, Habion there will tell — 
Is not Ananelus a Greek by name? 

Sabion. Ananelus? I never heard this name. 

OtJier at. We never heard the name, he is a Greek. 

1st at. Well, what of that? The king is Greek in ail 
And wants all heathen customs planted here. 
And with a high priest of the Grecian race 
The way for Jupiter and Bacchus paved 
Is to our Sanctuary's holiest seat. 
Thus far we by degiees arrive. He will 
Not stop where he is now. Why, dotards as 
We are, should he bethink himself when him 
The fashion goads? 

Sab. \to the 1st Cit.] What made thee guess the king 
Would tear the priesthood from the Asmoneans ? 



16 HEKOD. 

1st at. I am no guesser, but I know the fact; 
Ananelus the king installed as piifst. 
From Babylou he came by Herod called 
"Who did tlie holy office liim entrust 
And all the titles of the sacred rank. 
It was a secret which is known to-day 
And old Hyrcanus may his locks nnhair. 

Sab Brothers, there is nor gratitude nor love 
Nor friendship in this world; aud if of these 
There be a mite m beastly substance, man 
Of all the beasts in them the poorest seems. 
The cat, the dog ia grateful; tigers lick 
The hand of him who satiates their maw, 
But man can flay the geuerous hand that gives 
Destroy the giver and the gift indulge. 
Each day, it seems, the times are growing worse 
And parents should their infants' love suspect. [Exit. 

1st at. There is a weight and sense in this discouree. 
He speaks the truth if one considers well. 
It seems that all is tumbling out of joint. 
A babe in Hebron came with teeth to lifiht 
And scared his mother with uneaitlily talk. 
Some persons passing by the Dead Sea saw 
A wondrous castle floating on its waves, 
And hellish noise and laughter issued from 
Within, and: Herod, Herod! horribly • 

They heard with hisses and with yelling mixed. 
The hens are crowing and the ravens sing, 
An Iduraean is Judea's king. 

All. [singing] The hens are crowing and the ravens sing, 
An Idumean is Judea's king. [Enter a crowd in haste. 

A voice. Protect us. Heaven ! Flee for life! Flee, flee! 
They slay like sheep the citizens they catch! 

[Exeunt all. 
Enter Pheroras with officers and soldiers. 

Pher. That rabble overtake ai d cut them off. 
The spies report them adverse to the king. 

[An officer and soldiers go. 
I seek the others massing somewhere else. 
Have all the portals guarded till the game 
Is down. They court the chase and sh-all enjoy 
The sport. We sweep that crowded quarter where 
Conspiracy, they say, is ever ripe. [Pheruras and soldiers leave. 



A room in the palace. 

Alexandra, Aristobulus, and Mariamne. 

Arist. Had I Saramellas accompanied 
With me the grandsire would straightway return; 
But mother tliinks I am securest home. 
As if all roads infested were with wolves 
And I no pluck had to defend myself. 
Was David older when he Goliath fought? 
An idle life like mine the body and 
The mind unnerves. I am too fat to move, 



HEROD. 17 

And should this hour I die of all the world 
Jerusalem and Jericho I viewed 
And these but half. How old must be a man 
To have his Avill if I be yet too young ? 

Alex. As old as one who wills but whi.t is wise, 
And wise is in good season, child. Oh, my son. 
Would I could give you what but age can give ! 
How dear must man for sound experience pay, 
And, having it, the chance to use it goes; 
Nor can this treasure be an heir's bequest, 
Who, in his turn, oft gathers it in vain. — 
The world and man are not what they to youth 
Appear, dear son. A parent's frown, as cloud 
Impregnate with the blessed rain, portends 
No evil, though the sight be dark, while smile 
On stranger's visage oft that glaring blaze 
Resembles which the earthquake's outburst doth 
Precede. Intrusive friendship, son, distrust. 
Thy secrets bury in thy inmost heart. 
And shun those natures who promotion crave 
Unscrupulous in choice of means and ways. 
Suspect the love of them who rule by force; 
They are not human who the weak oppress. 
A dragon rather than a talebearer hug; 
The glossy tongue of menial courtlings hate. 
Trust Heaven, son, and then thy mother's care. 

Mart. So solemn and sententious is thy speech. 
Dear mother, as if treason lurking were 
Around, and we the vanquished were to-day 
And not the victors by Almighty's grace. 
Is not Judea Herod's conquered land. 
Who loves thy daughter more than life and throne ? 
Suggest the dignity thy son may wear 
And I shall answer for the best result. 
This morn he of our grandsire in Parthia spoke 
With filial gratitude, affection true. 
He hath a heart, I find; since, had he none, 
How could soft love invade an iron breast? 

Arist- [to Maria mne} And when may we the grandsire's return 
Expect V I am impatient to liehold 
His face who in his arms did fondle me 
As babe. He is the best of men on earth ! 

Mari. He may return before the moon is round. 
A gorgeous escort left this noon for him 
With all the comforts of a royal train. 
The king is longing to embrace his friend 
With whom he means the kingdom to divide. 

Arist. Yet must he not the sacred altar tread. 
Must not the people bless with outstretched hand 
Which will our joy curtail, mar his delight. 

Alex. Our full affection will his age suffice, 
Who will instruct thee how to fill his place. 
Thine is the priesthood, son; thy grandsire will 
His holy vesture thee not grudge who art 
My child and of his flesh and lilood. It is 
His wish to see the sacred emblems on 
Thy breast. 



18 HEROD. 

Arist. Would he could wear them; I could wait; 
Am yet too young to awe a pious flock. 

Mari. So spoke the ^ing when I besought him straight 
With priestly state Aristobulus to 
Invest. 

Alex. Is not my son entitled to 
The high priest's robe and the anointment of 
Our great ancestral line ? A grandchild of 
Hyrcanus none can his inheritance 
Dispute. He is the priest by Heaven and earth 
Approved I 

Mari. I see not who hath stronger claim 
Than he, and what the king disturbs is but 
His youth, whom he, besides, doth love with all 
A brother's heart. I shall not rest before 
His scruples yield and my entreaties long 
He can't resist. He wields Judea and 
I wield his heart, and test I shall how deep 
His love to me. 

Alex. Daughter, if thou must ask, 

Entreat, beseech for what by right is ours 
Then all thy arts employ before the worst 
Is done; for once proclaimed, anointed, none 
A high priest can of sanctity divest. 
Except a fatal accident. My son 
The sacred plates must wear as rightful heir 
To what his grandsire should l\y right bestow. 

Mari. It is the hour for me to see the king, [Sahion enters. 
And I this favor ask to test his love 
Which hitherto no tongue had to refuse. 
Aristobulus shall the mitre wear 
And be Judea's ever-blessing priest. 

S((b. And thou Judea's ever-blessed queen. — 
Depart not, madam, ere old Sabion spoke. 
A startling rumor bid me hither haste 
To learn the tidings people whisper round. 
The sacred office— so am I apprised — 
The king bestowed on one from Babylon. 

Alex. Bestowed ? Didst thou not say bestowed ? 

3Iari. Bestowed : 

He saying this knows more than what is true. 
More than of the king's plans the queen doth know, [^.sop e))ters. 

Alex. Speak, ^sop, for thou hast to speak, I see. 

jEsop. My princess, is Ananelus, the priest, 
Of Asmonean descent V 

Alex. Ananelus! 

Is that his name who tramples on my son? [fo Sahion. 

Sol). He is from Babylon, Ananelus, 
On whom the king the priesthood did bestow. 

[Maria n me lea ven. 

Alex. Ananelus, thou art my evil star ! 
My son's disgrace, my father's grief and mine. 
And woes impending which will sure evolve 
Will bear thy name, Ananelus, to me 
Unblest, though bless thou mayst the senseless throngs! 
Ungrateful king ! Do we so little count 
In thy designs that thou darest thus our claim 



HEROD. 19 

And station slur? Even a fly can sting, 

Why not a woman's vengeance ruin bring ? 

Invulnerable thou art not, my lord, 

And there are powers mightier than thy sword. — 

Go, friends, I ought to be alone, I feel; 

Dear Sabion, go ! I shall requite thy zeal. 

„ . ^, , . [Sabion, ^sop and Aristobulus qo. 

i air Cleopatra, Antony thy slave 

Can all a globe not thy entreaties brave; 

Through thee I ask the priesthood not alone, 

But for my boy I claim Judea's throne. 

Straightway I write my grievance to my friend. 

By Egypt's help my son shall rule this land. [Exit. 

SCENE V. 

A house in Babylon. 
Enter Hykcanus and Saeamellas. 

Hyrcamis. Have read the letters and my heart is touched 
So tender is the breath of love in them. 
He calls me father, benefactor, guide. 
Would not without my princely aid be king; 
Without my wisdom, venerable age. 
A son could not be more affectionate 
Than he, a stranger to my house and heart, 
Save that my grandchild's consort he is now. 
I am not sorry I did raise him well 
Who full deserves the kingly rank he holds. 
He hath a grateful soul, I see he hath. — 
And how did Parthia's king the message take? 

Sara. Thou hast in Phraates quite a friend, my lord. 
He is unwilling to behold thee part, 
Would not on Herod's promise much rely, 
Hopes that thy welfare was secure at home. 
And would no hindrance raise if thou wilt go. 
He will be here to give thee royal choice. 

Hyr. If I would go I Would 1 could borrow of 
The eagle speed to wing along and see 
My darhngs home! Oh, friend, a time of gloom 
I spent in this exile, and ofttimes wished 
I were among the dead. If life hath worth 
It lies in those we love, and none of these 
Were here to cheer my age. Though Phraates did 
Me hospitably treat my soul was sad, 
And oft the tears did flow when I at night 
For peace the skies besought, and thought of them 
Who in Jerusalem ever sighed for me. 
I pardoned him who thus my figure maimed. 
But Heaven avenged my undeserved disgrace. 
And for his crime Antigonus atones.— [Enter deputation. 

Our brethren dwelling here did spare no pains 
To link my soul to them by marks of love. 
They are deploring my departure hence, 
And I regret them but I cannot stay. — 
Step nearer, friends, I guess your mission's purport. 



20 HEROD. 

1st Elder, [kissing Hyr-camts' )-obe\ Oh bide with us whom we 
so deeply love! 
Our high priest and our guide art thou, and all 
Who on Euphrates' banks Jehovah praise * 

Beseech thee through my lip to stay with us. 

M Eld. Forsake us not who far from Zion dwell, 
But be our light on Babylonian soil. 

3d Eld. Depart not, sir, remain with us as head. 
They have the Temple and thy priestly house, 
And many sages there the law expound; 
"We have but thee our age and youth to teach. 
And with thy going all our light withdraws! 

Hyr. Yoti move my soul, I go reluctant hence. 
Yet go I must now that my dearest call. 
The One Supreme will be your priest and guide, 
And bless you for the kindness shown to me. 
Here stands the messenger Judea's king 
Did send to lead me where my heart was chained. 
While thus exiled I yearned for my home. 
No, urge me not, dear friends, an impulse to 
Siibdue which in man's nature is, forsooth. 
The best. Your hearths and children bind ye here 
And I from mine, alas ! am separate 
Too long. And should the best of men whose love 
Invokes, should I my rights inherited 
Disdain, not great Judea with her king. 
With Herod not in common riile divide? 

1st Eld. Not all is selfishness which prompts us, sir,. 
Thus to dissuade thee from departing hence. 
Couldst thou as priest the holy office hold. 
As monarch mount thy sire's glorious throne 
But half our grief would be to miss thee here. 
Knowing that Israel by thee is blessed. 

But since thy maim precludes thee from the Ark, 

Remember, sir, that Herod is a man 

On whom perchance thou dost rely too much. 
2d Eld. Thy honors here are not inferior, sir. 

To what at best thou mayst expect at home. 

Come they to us who would with thee abide, 

A royal treatment we to all secure 

Who kinship claim with thy illustrious house. 
3d Eld. On height of fortune potentates forget 

The favors they, when humble, did receive. 

And hate as debtors gratitude to feign 

Unbearable to infiated state and pride. 

Thy arm is weak, thou must on him depend 

Who is usurper of thy native rights. 

And whom thy honored presence galling may 

Excite. He will thy hoary head not spare 

Who in revenge the Holy Synod slew. 

Hyr. Unfounded fear! He ever was my friend 

And went to Rome to advocate my cause. 

But was promoted 'gainst his will and hope. 

Hi"; inexperience forces him to seek 

What I of statecraft gathered in my time. 



HEEOD. 21 

Either with him or I myself may rule. — 

Is not the errand worded as I say? \to Saramellas. 

Sara. The letters state it clear. — There comes the king. 

Phkaates and train enter on one side, the deputation leave on 
the other. 

Hyr. This honor, king, my gratitude makes poor. 
I came a captive to thy warlike land 
Prepared to die a dark, inglorious death, 
And to thy hospitable grace I owe 
That I once more my deaiest may behold, 
And then foiever close mine eyes in peace. 

Phra. Not ere the choicest blessings of the skies 
Alight on thy anointed head. — Thou art 
The priest of the Most High, and royalty 
Did awe us in thy look when thee we met 
With undisguised intent; wherefore we wished 
To treat thee as befits a prince. Now are 
We come to let thee have thy choice. Our court 
And treasures open stand for thee if thou 
With us wilt l)i(le whom we revere as friend: 
If not, as friend return to them who own 
Thy heart. 

Hyr. This generous way encumbers me, 
Oh, king, with weight of royalty I scarce 
Can bear. I go a debtor to thyself and land. 
And shall thy kindness on my heart engrave. 
As oft as for mankind I Heaven beseech 
The king of Parthia shall remembered be. 
Whose noble virtues emulation rouse. 
Though high priest I of thee I learned much. 
Thy grace in giving multiplied the gift 
And made the moments of thy presence sweet. 
Tea, Heaven doth through monarchs chastise man 
Or bless him in the ruler he obeys. 
Each land, each people mirror but their kings 
Who may their gods or may their demons be. — 
May ever Parthia and Judea thrive 
As friendly allies in the works of peace. 
Be ruled by kings of mutual rivalry 
In deeds of love each other to eclipse. 

Phra. The more thy worth we know the less do we 
Thy hasty parting like. It is thy wish 
To go we grant, else Herod's urging would 
Us find unmoved. And wouldst thou not with us 
Abide who thus unwilling j)art with thee? 

Hjjr. As when a daughter from her mother parts 
To find a home beneath a lover's roof, 
She feels her parent's dotage, weeps with her, 
Yet clings with fondness to her husband's breast, 
So I, O king, would fain divide myself 
Could I my trunk as I my soul divide 
Betwixt thyself and them I mostly love. 
But when my inmost fervors I consult, 
I needs must say that they all hither tend 
Where first the beam of heaven struck my sight. 
Where all is treasured what mv heart enshrines. 



22 HEROD. 

I long to die where once my cradle stood, 
By them environed who are part of me. 

Phra. [grasping Hyrcanus' hand] Then part with honor and 
my friendship take, 
And may the future not thy hopes deceive. [To Saramellas. 

Tell brother Herod we his craving share 
To see henceforth our kingdoms leagued in peace. 

[Exeunt Phraates\and train, 

Hyr. Thus are we going, though I truly part 
Against a whisper warning in my heart. [Exemit both, 

SCENE VI. 

A hall in the palace. 

Hekod and Makiamne. 

Main. All chat ; the pith and gist of love is love 
By deeds sustained. Not thus doth Antony 
Fair Cleopatra love as if the phrase 
Was equal to the gift bestowed. He rules 
Her self, she rules the half of earth through him. 
The Koman hero all can give he hath, 
For great in manhood he i=? great in heart. 
Can Herod boast of such unselfishness ? 

Her. Mariamne, princess of Judea's lord, 
The air I breathe, my rank, my sword, myself 
Are thine! And should in kingdoms I mine love 
Express when I know well that continents 
Are poor to serve as figures when my heart 
Computes! Base Cleopatra trades in love 
As coin, and for her charms she deems the world 
A price; but had great Antony thy price 
To pay, the orbs of heaven hardly would 
Suffice to buy the bliss a smile of thine 
Imparts, so dear and precious seems to me 
Thy Avorth. I am a beggar, queen, if thou 
Makest love a debt, and thinkst my soul no price 
For thy sweet self. 

Mari. I set no price for what 

I freely gave when giandsire Herod named 
To be in life and death, in times or bright 
Or dark, my lord. My widowed mother founds 
Her hopes on thee; on thee Hyrcanus all 
His castles builds. Resemble not that isle 
On dolphin's back which, fast submerging, wrecks 
A hopeful crowd too confident of what 
They thought a rock. I am a stranger to 
Thy deep-laid schemes, and with the vulgar do 
I startled gaze when Herod's plans behold 
The light of day. Doth woman live to warm 
Her husband's bed, be like a plaything to 
A moody babe who fondles it or throws 
It to the winds? Is such the contract of 
Devoted love? 

Her. Thou canst not blame me, love, 
For such neglect who have no secret hid 
Which fits a lady's ear. Forgetfuiness 



HEROD. 23 

Sometimes dotli on attention draw; yet think 
I not my memory so dull as not 
To wing apace with fondest love. Disprove 
It, pigeon, and I will amend. 

Mori. Amend! 

Dost thou not promise more than thou canst do? 

Her. Not less, my love, than I can do I grant. 

Mart. Then grant the priesthood from my brother torn 
Against thy promise and this nation's will, 
Against thy love the heavens could not buy. 
Oh great in words how dwarfish are thy deeds 
Who stars canst squander, not thy love of self! 

Hei: Can such a thing a cherulj move to wrath? 

Man'. It is an outrage which the skies resent! 
And speak of love not when with sneering leer 
Thou dost thine irony on weakness whet. 

Her. Mariamne, Mars m terrors clad I dare 
Confront, but am a kid when Amor clouds 
His brow, whose darts forever wounding pierce 
My heait and make a love-sick, whining boy 
Of me. Come smile again, my queen, for this 
Thy frown my welkin's glare bedims, and all 
Is chaos when my love is gloom. Come, love, 
I Avill Aristobulus higher than 
The altar lift, for which he is too young. 
The people would revolt if I a boy 
Invested with that awful sanctity 
Which hitherto but hoary heads haloed 

Man'. My brother is by birth the rightful priest, 
My lord, and all Judea waits to see 
Him in the sacred robe our fathers wore. 
None thinking him by youth disqualified. 
Nay, bitter enmity engender will 
This huge disgrace cast on the Asmoneans, 
And disaffected will thy people stand 
As long as force usurps the place of right. 
Thou canst thy will impose, my lord, but love 
And honor naught but loyal actions win. — 
This will be news for him who Parthia left 
By thee invited to be king at home. - 
Great Heaven, I see afar a night ascend; 
A dreary future rising dark I see, 
Which, spreading, veils in gloom this holy land. 
This flagrant act it opes the tragedy. \Exit Mariamne. 

Her. (foJknrinq her with his eyes) It opes the tragedy, Mari- 
amne, yes. 
Dark incidents are being hatched to fill 
The drama I perforce must play. How wilt 
Thou startle when my plans are well matured ! 
Thou seest the egg-shell, not the snake within, 
Which, bursting forth, will horrify thy sense 
So dreadful is that monster's hellish thirst. 
Who conjured comes to swill thy kindred's blood. 
Thy love to lose this thought I cannot bear, 
But how my lofty station hold amid 
A crowd of scions nobler than myself ? 
The cream are they and I the sediment ; 



^ HEROD. 

How could I loyally defeat my foes 

Who right and habit have all on their side? 

Like hydra heads the royal dandies spring 

And no Alcides lives to check the crop. — 

The morals of the barking world I scorn; 

It bows in awe before the unsheathed sword; 

The steel can bridle disaffected mobs; 

But what the Roman lion makes a lamb, 

A creature of his mistress' brow, that spell 

Is whelming when a seraph lours, which thou 

Art, sylph, to that Egyptian harlot. -Yield 

Or not yield. Herod, the battle is not won 

As long as thou must yield. A woman's toy, 

Although I her adore, I shall not be ! — 

And if I yield, Mariamne, tremble when 

Dread majesty rehictant bows! My love to thee 

Can much effect, but — aye, when pliant Jove 

To Semele did yield she found her ruin 

In his consuming love. — A messenger! 

What, news from Antony '? [Messenger enters. 

Mess. From Athens do 

I come, and in this paper Antony 
Doth speak, my lord. [Hands a paper and leaves. 

Her. [reads\ " To please Judea's king we will 
Antigonus remove, and woitld be pleased 
To have the princely youtb, Aristobulus, 
Near us before we him promote." — It smells 
Not well; there is a piece of Dellius' and 
Of Cleopatra's cunning in this broth. 
That helps thee to the mitre, boy — Promote 
The youth! 1 kuow the lusty Koman who, 
Though great in field, is sottish when a whore 
Doth smile on him, and mocketh nature's law 
When virile beauty doth provoke his lust. 
Why not ? — A boy and strumpet both beloved 
May so(m undo what I in years have done. — 
Hold, Antony, thou shalt not thwart my schemes; 
Ananelus, retire for a while 
And let lis yielding all those fools beguile. [Exit 

SCENE VII. 

A prison in Athens, 
E)ifer Antigonus, Manahem and a Headsman. 

Ant. Oh Manahem, Manahem, so must I end 
The last of Asmonens' glorious line 
With shame opprobrious on my memory heaped ! — 
Oh dreadful is thy judgment. Lord, who dost 
Oft mortals lift to deepen but their fall! — 
Unchain my freedom, headsman, let unbound 
Me breathe a while. No tiger could these walls 
Surmount. Why should this jail be witness of 
My shame? Is this a man of Hesli and blood? ( To Manahem. 

Heads. Behold the sun before thy chains are off, 
Since being off thy head must down at once ; 
So bid my orders; I have to obey. 

Mana. But for a while suspend the fatefnl blow 



HEROD. 25 

And let the king not unprepared depart. [To Headsman. 

Thy precious seconds waste not, noble prince, 
And reconcile thyself with Heaven and earth. 

[The chains are taken off. 

Ant. Oh, call me coward, yet I hate to die , 
The basest stigma withering my name. 
He called me Antigone whom I could slay, 
Instead of which I knelt to ray disj^race. 
I was a villain and a base poltroon 
Else would I pierce that chest to pity strange. 
It woiild be fame to fall on Sosius' trunk. 
Oh wretched instinct which still clinfjrs to life 
When life is agony and death relief. — 
The beast in us, Manahem, not the god 
Predominates when we despised must fall. 

Man a. If thus in wreckaj^e thou dost wisdom learn 
Then bless the tempest which thy shipwreck brought. 
Is death no blessing to blind man who errs 
While on his trial in his mortal frame ."' 
So strong is nature's witchcraft o'er mankind 
That sovereign reason must to iustinct yield. 
And souls are dreading the ethereal space 

To breathe the dust of this heart-writhinju' world. " 

There seems none greater than the crowned head, 
And what hath he for all the cares of rule V 
That sweetest third of life we spend in sleep 
is more the peasant's than the king's repose, 
Who rests uneasy by those phantoms scared 
Which haunt his mind in fullest glare of day. 
And bread and salt, the betj-gar's relished fare 
Than royal dainties sAveeter are to healtli, 
To hearts unworried and to conscience pure. 
But worse than all to crowned heads is death, 
Whose terrors grow compared with royal pomp. 
How foolish they who, born without their choice, 
Would have a will when it is time to part, 
As if the pleasures tasted here below 
The highest were a universe provides 
For such as do in virtuous deeds delight. 

Ant. Speak not of virtue, at whose sight I sneered, 
Browbeating her with power's haughty front. 
But shame and evil crowd upon my soul 
That must be torn from this decaying tlesh; 
And when the deeps unfathomable of the 
Hereafter I affrighted pierce, I curse 
The hour in which I was conceived to wreck 
So many ere I wrecked myself. Sprung from 
A royal ancestry of noblest blood, 
The savage Parthian I in crime did match, 
And have no courage mercy to implore 
Of Him whose image I in man disdained. 
How can a second of repentance forced 
Efface the trail of crimeful, bloody years ? 

Mana. Commit no sin, my x)rince, in doubting that 
The greatest God the greatest is in grace, 
Else how could frail mankind one hour subsist 
With all the errors they with air inhale ? 



26 HEROD. 

Or wouldst thou Deity with man compare, 

Who sets a limit to his mortal love, . 

And wreaks his vengeance on a sinking foe ? 

No, for thy shortcomings thine death atones, 

And clears of guilt thy sin-encumbered soul. 

By deep remorse do sanctify this hour 

And to thy ghost upsoaring virtue give 

By rueing earnestly thy dark career. 

Above thy lower instincts rise, dear prince, 

And Avith a bosom filled with heavenly trust, 

A temper softened by contrition's flow. 

Embrace the moment with a man's resolve 

And part resigned to the decree of Heaven ! 

Ant. Oh, if my career on earth had been as pure 
As my repentance now is true and deep, 
I would an angel not a sinner die. 
Yea, night, eternal night I do embrace. 
And may in darkness buried rest my shame; 
Come, headsman, come and cut my earthly race. 
That I thus fall none but myself I blame. 

[He leaves folloved l>y Maiialtevi and the Headsman, 



ACT II. 

SCENE I. 

A hall in the palace. 
Herod, Maeiamne, Alexandra, Aristobulus in priestly attire, 

PhERORAS, DiOPHANTUS, SARAMEIiLAS, EuRYCLES, JoSEPH and 
CORINTHUS. 

Herod. Now seems all joy and brightness in our mid 
And you, our queen, are shining like the sun 
In his mild glories of the morrow wrapt. 
And we are brightening at your radiant smile. 
What is a throne devoid of loveliness, 
A world of wealth without a blessed saint I 
More than the beggar feels the want of bread 
The careworn sovereign needs the charm of love 
To sweeten soothingly his restless days. 
That smile to chain we would a treasure give 
Could by some magic we arrest its beam. 
Since having it our day would never end — 
And you, our mother, are not less enjoyed 
As if your heart no ardent wish enclosed. 
Yet if a longing slumbers in your breast • 

Which we, perchance, are slow to satisfy 
This hour be yours; demand, we grant, 
And let no sigh becloud this festive day. 

Alex. So satiate of the moment's joy is mind 
And heart in me. my king, that for a wish 
There is scarce room in them, except the one 
That what I see and have may ever last! 
Mattathias' immortal offsprings for 



HEROD. 27 

The purple fought my sod as high priest hath 

A claim to wear, for in his veins the blood 

Of Maccabaeus, Simon and Jonathan Hows 

Who for Judea's freedom striving fell. 

Yet is by Heaven's will the power thine, 

And I am thankful for my daughter's share 

Of the inheritance endeared to us, 

Am thankful that my sire's office filled 

Is by mine son. Henceforth no thought of mine 

Shall wrong thee, king ; and if, thy unrevealed 

Designs mistaking, I oft rued thy course, 

Forgive, my lord, a mother's throbbing heart 

Who for her children would herself consume. — 

And now a favor grant, my lord, and share 

The banquet I in Jericho, my son's 

Promotion duly to acknowledge, have 

Ordained. May none who friend is of thy throne 

Be absent from the .joyous feast I give. 

Her. We rate it highly to be named your guest. 
And shall our court command to honor you 
In all particulars of royal state. 
We owe you much for our beloved queen 
Who to our bosom dearer is than thrones, 
And do our best to stimulate her love 
And have your friendship and esteem withal. — 
There comes the hoary sire whom we revere, 
By us invited to endow the youth 

Enter Htrcanus and train— all incline their heads 
With all the symbols of the sacred rank. — 
Come, father, and thy grandson raise to that 
Distinction which thy life adorned. Invest 
Aristobulus with the high priest's awe. 
Be he the minister of the Great One 
And on this Harvest Feast let him the skies 
For us and human kind beseech. 9 

Hyr. [his hand on Aristobulus' head] My son. 
The truth from Sinai's height to Israel 
Revealed engrave upon thy tender heart 
And by it led thy sacred calling fill. 
Thou art the teacher of a prince' y race 
Ordained to save the erring tribes of man. 
And on thy lip this nation's Aveal depends. 
Thy station bids thee soar above this world, 
Confront corruption with a manly breast 
And purge of errors straying multitudes. 
Unlike the heathen priests who sway the crowds 
By superstitious practice, false pretense, 
Judea's priesthood claims the sacrifice 
Of those who vow its banner to uphold 
With all the manhood sacred truth involves! 
Thou all sublunar passions must forswear 
Except the worship of the awful One, 
With glowing ardor thrilling every soul, 
And virtue tested by the tongue of deeds.— 
This oil I pour upon thy youthful locks 

\pouring otl on his head. 



5 HEROD. 

Transfers on thee a people's holiest trust, 
And opes the Sanctuary's fearful Shrine 
Where thou shalt pray for Israel and man. — 
And thou Supremest of all beings high, 
His prayers hear whenever he invokes 
Thy boundless grace for them who living err; 
And may through him this country thriving grow. 
This monarch's reign be one of lasting peace I 

Her. And our felicitation, brother, take. 
Who from our heart bestow on thee the rank. 
The sky beseech that we may prosper well 
In what, abroad we foster or at home, 
And teach the tribes to venerate their king 
Whom Heaven chose this country to redeem 
From foreign bondage and intestine strife. 
We stand determined for the land's repute 
And shall its prestige jealously maintain 
If not disturbed by unsubmissive mobs, 
Whom thou as teacher timely must exhort 
And spare us bloodshed in defence of peace. 

AHfit. Could I my soul's emotion on the tongue 
Uplift, and utterance impart to what 
I thrilling feel, no eye is here but would 
With sympathy for my affrighted youth 
Pathetically melt and overflow. — " 
Must I in wisdom poorer than in years, 
And in the latter wanting to a score 
Approach invokingly the Lord of Hosts, 
A mediator stand betwixt the heavens 
And earth! The wisest heads whom learned age 
Adorned, struck with the dreadful sacredness 
Of Him who in the Holi-st of Holies dwells, 
When on the great Atonement Day they yon 
Sequestered space bestrode, their terror of 
Jehovah's breath much stronger foaud than life, 
And I should face that all-enkindling blaze 

With thousand follies boyhood hath in train! [He kneels. 

Oh Lord Zebaoth who my fathers braced 
When with bare sword Judea's foes they faced 
And fell devoted to Thy sacred word, 
Hear when I pray and what I pray accord! 
Let me be worthy of Thy holy trust 
And serve thee faithful, ardent to the last. 
This realm may prosper in its blessed clime, 
This nation triumph as in Solomon's time! 

[He rises: Alexandrct (ind Maridmne kiss him, Herod and 
Hyrcanus congratulate, the others bow in reverence: ivhile 
the king, the queen, A!ecvandr((, Hyrcanus and, trains dejyart 
Pheroras beckons Eitri/cles to stay.] 

Pher. Well, friend, how look these things to one from Greece? 

Eury. Not worse than to the fool from Palestine. 
A priest, a cloak, a blessing and a talk 
Leave me as frigid as a frozen fish ; 
But for the queenly kiss I barefoot ran 
On Hades' coal. She beats the lieroine 
Of Troy, and I a hundred Hectors Avould 



HEROD. 29- 

For her encounter. Zounds, Herod hath a cause 
To live and strive; for with a grace like this 
What treasures has the earth that are not his? 

Pher. Thou art a Greek of Helen's native soil, 
And strains like this are common in your land; 
But if thou ever art of Herod's suite 
Avoid to give such sentiments a sound 
Lest fortune flees thee by mine brother's side. 

Eury. He would not others hear his wealth compute ? 

Pher. He would his eunuchs' impotence not trust 
And loves not him who wondering eyes his queen. 

Eury Saturnia, perhaps gave Herod birth; 
His jealousy is worthy of her brood.- 
I am no eyeless eunuch, prince, and will 
My suit to serve Judea's king retract. 

Pher. Is silence galling to a man of wit? 
Success will follow him who can be mute. 
Is woman's weakness not her tongue's defect, 
And manhood's strength not full control of speech ? 

Eury. I stand instructed, prince, and mil comply 
If I be welcome to the wondrous king. 

Pher. The wondrous king dislikes not wondrous men 
Who, like thyself, come with their fortunes to 
Enhance their wondrous luck. But lucre not, 
Good man, will pave to Herod's confidence 
Thy way. The servants he selects must be 
Of mettle other than the vulgar type. 

Eury. By thundering Jove, I am the flesh he wants. 
My sole ambition being to unearth 
Unruly rascals and betray abuse! 
As all of us can neither monarchs be 
Nor lords, nor otherwise of dazzling note, 
The best of means to conquer some repute 
Is to connect one's fate with those who reign 
And be promoter of their higher ends. 
What are we if no factors in the whirl 
Of life! Let woman cry for rest, but man 
In strirring action seeks and finds his poise. 
I thirst for deeds, and hope the field is found 
Or I have vainly left my slothful home 
In search of emprise nowhere to be had. 
It is a crawling age in which we live, 
My prince, and all the world would snore but for 
The Roman who the bustle stirs. 

Pher. We in 

This quarter have some pith as well and in 
The king thou wilt a temper find who would 
In naught to any Roman yield. First know 
The man whom Antony an equal deems 
In pluck to conquer and in craft to rule. 
Think not so lightly of our valor, friend, 
By Rome acknowledged and by facts sustained. 

Eury. Your wide renown drew hither me, my lord,. 
And manly pride incites to serve the great. 
The Spartan learned Herod to extol 
And thinks it station to be among his train. 
But this is more, it seems, than I deserve. 



30 HEROD. 

Who thus presumptuously would rank attain. 
Nay, better I withdraw and go my way 
Than cringe a suppliant at this famous court. 
Why not abide in mute obscurity, 
Instead of craving such an envious lot 
As few can get devoid of titled names ? 

Pher. Mistake, mistake! Be not too humble, man. 
And give no preference to a scurvy stock 
Of rotten softlings o'er a breed of steel. 
This time the vulgars in their clutches hold 
The world, and they of royal lineage may 
The vapors smell of what the upstarts feast. 
But lack in nerve the booty to dispute. 
Thy vulgar origin commends thee well, 
And I will prompt the king to have thee nigh. 
Be not afar should I thy presence want. 
Meanwhile be student of all men and things 
And let no striking incident thy watch 
Elude. — Be near when from the Shrine the king 
And court return, and scent the current of 
The rabble's views. — Be near, I shall somehow 
Requite thy costly gifts. 

Eury. My prince — 

Pher. No word! 

Be near at Jericho. \Exit Pheroras. 

Eury. I shall be near, 

So near that of thy shadow my Greek nose 
Shall make a part. It is a risk to give 
So much away to buy admission to 
A quivering throne and be the creature of 
An upstart rogue. But in this hunting world 
Thou canst unhazardously not a rat 
Or hare entrap. If I in Herod am 
Deceived and find him wiser, better than 
A cunning knave, a man by consciousness 
And usages controlled, my prospects fade 
And ^ my wreckage have too dearly bought. 
But what of him I know by hearsay tends 
To prove that he much bolder is in act 
Than in his wisdom deep, and that his creed 
Is pliant as his mind. Love softens him ; 
Ambition and suspicion haunt his rest 
And magnify the spectres of his fear. 
How easy to confound a man like this ! 
So much I know that he his wife adores 
But would her stock exterminate at once 
Had he a shade of ground to justify 
The crime. He wants a rogue of such a type 
As I am through and through, just made to fill 
The vacancy. Be it, however, known 
To these unspeaking walls that not for love 
To Herod do his confidence I seek. 
But hunt my interest in hunting him. 
I may be lamb or tiger in this frame, 
It all depends upon the means I need 
To get what I much higher rate than fame ; 
Thedevil's lucre is my Grecian creed. [Exit. 



HEROD. 31 



A room in the palace. 
Enter Cypros and Salome. 
Cyproti. Let her upon her rotten lineaiSire perch. 
My tree is younjf and vij^orous, and can 
Her slurs defy. Enough my son is king 
Against her kindred and her own consent, 
And she may phime herself to have his love. 

Sal. His love and what a monarch thus enslaved 
May to his arrogant enchantress give. 
What can a woman not who knows her might ! 
Mariamne knows that Herod is her slave. 
And would his power forfeit rather than 
Her lukewarm love. I wonder not that he 
A sister's tenderness but slightly notes, 
But loathe is every filial sense in me 
When I his wife above his mother in 
Superior loftiness exalted see. 
Oh fie, to be so great and yet so weak ! 

Ci/p. It is no weakness in a man to love, 
Though weak it is to love beyond degree. 
His father likewise was a burning type 
Yet knew" he measure in his glowing heat, 
And I ofttimes in vain have tried to move 
Him off a scheme on which his heart was set. 
In every feature Herod is his like, 
In manly hardiness, tempestuous wrath, 
In crafty projects puzzling friend and foe. 
TJxoriousness cannot his dotage be, 
And if it be it surely hath a bound. 

Sal. If I judge well he loves but is not loved, 
Or those he honors she would honor too, 
Instead of treating us with marked contempt. 

Cyp. Contempt ! no, say not this. Mariamne shows 
No liking for us all, 'tis true, but naught 
I know of proves the feeling thou didst name. 

Sal. That means she did not spit at us when we 
In homage bowed before her queenly grace. 
While she did graciously our fealty by 
A nod return, sometimes a smile so forced 
That words but little to the scorn could add. 
What could she do she did not to abate 
Our pride ? Once I of father's greatness spoke. 
"Yes, great through him who greater is than he." 
Alluding to Hyrcanus this she said. 
And when of Herod's matchless valor I 
Dilating spoke, she asked me sueeringly 
If I thought Judas Maccabteus was 
As brave as he, withdrawing ere I time 
Had to reply. Such haughty ways the best 

Of natures must envenomingly wound. [Enter Pheroras. 

I hate that woman whom I long to sting. 

Cyp. What brings my son beside himself to-day ? 

Pher. If aught I bring it more weighs than myself. 
Who but for stomachs which give fools some weight 
Would be too light to walk against the wind. 



32 H E E O D 

Sah Thy dagger makes thee ponderous tor thy foes 
Who by a breath would blow thee off the earth. 

Pher. Let daggers, sister, in their scabbards rust 
Now that the black-eyed maidens garlands weave 
And every pathway strewed is with sweet flowers. 
From all the comers of Judea's reach 
The joyous crowds come streammg to the Shrine 
The Feast of Harvest duly to observe, 
To hear the high priest's tuneful Clarion voice, 
To kiss his purple's border, shed a tear, 
Receive his new-hatched blessing, see the queen, 
And then on blessing, beauty, high priest, king. 
Oppression, tyranny descant at home. 
But we have something more — a feast, a feast, 
A banquet at the mansion of the dame 
In Jericho, who overjoyed with her 
Endeared heir's advancement, king and court 
Invites to honor him now worshipped by 
The mob. You Avill, of course, be with us there 
To-night. I guess there will be fun for you. 

Ci/p. Would not frail age my absence justify? 
I am too old for feasts and frolic sports. 

Pher. Command thy son who will thy age excuse. — 
But thou, Salome, bear us company ; 
The king would miss thee and the court withal ; 
Among the fairs there should be one of us. 

Sal. I hate to meet the overbearing queen 
Who in imperious insolence her dam 
Excels. Yet not to fly her sight I am 
Resolved, but with my valiant brothers shall 
My place maintain. I am a princess as 
She is a queen, nor was my father less 
A man than hers. — I shall the feast attend 
Which may for them in doleful sorrow end. \Exit. 

Pher. A red-hot fury this and gentle vow. — 
What, by Azazel, means this pitchy rage ? 

Cyp. The queen's demeanor stings one to the quick 
And naught is done to damp her haughtiness. 
We have good reasons to resent her slurs. 

Pher. Did her Mariamne offer blunt offense? 

Cj/p. As blunt as faces, words and acts betray. 
Thou knowest well she liketh not our house. 

Pher. Not more nor less than we her kindred like; 
Yet should it never come to open war 
Until by force and guile we one by one 
Remove. Vivacious is her withering stock 
We must by inches extirpate; but spoil 
Our method not by such unmeasured shows. 

Cyp. Is not Hyrcanus still in power high, 
Aristobulus not the priest of state ? 
You nurse the hydra which in morsels cut 
Would out of every piece conjure a snake. 
I see no wisdom in your method, boys. 

Pher. If hydra heads would each a hydra turn 
We torches had each hydra's head to burn . 
Events will speak, thus let me silent be 
And mutely ripen our sure victory, f Exeunt Pheroras and Cypros. 



HEKOD. 33 

SCENE III. 

» 

Before the Temple. 

Enter Sabion, vEsop, and a crowd all hearing branches of palm 
trees and boughs of myrtle. 

^sop. Oh Sabion, friend, dear Sabion, why not weep! 
Not weep with joy! I am a woman, faith, 
But who, beholding that imperial youth 
In purple clad and towering over all 
The pious throngs, could master his delight ? 
I wept, all wept, while he did minister. 
Didst thou the king observe ? Dejected, eh ? 
Dejected; paled he not? 

Sab. Be not so loud. 

The people there have ears, and when the king 
Is named they listen eagerly. — Well, friends, 
This palm and myrtle show will haunt you far. 
And furnish rich material for a tale 
To be recounted at your distant homes. 
Our high priest's blessing light on you, good men! [To the croivd. 

^■Esop . Ho, friends, God bless our youthful priest ! Send up 
Yoiir prayers for the lordly youth in whom 
This land and people may be fully blessed ! 

Enter another crovd. A voice is heard. 

Revere the high priest coming from the Shrine ! 

[Herod and suite, Hyrcanus, Aristobulus in holy vesture issue 

from the 2'emple's 2}ortal. At seeing Aristobulus all 

incline their heads and the multitude exclaims :\ 

Long live Aristobulus, our higli priest! 

A Voice. A cheer for Hyrcanus, a cheer for Hyrcanus, ho! 

Crowd. Hail King Hyrcanus, pray for King Hyrcanus ! 

A Voice. Five cheers for Herod, five cheers for Herod, ho! 
{The croivd groics tiimultuous : coughing, laughing and sneezing 
are heard ivhile the train passes by, the king being visibly 
affected.) 

A Voice. A groan, a groan ! — 

Another Voice. A cough, a kick, and a groan! [Loud laughter. 

u^sop. Hear me, ye sons of Judea, hear me and do 
What i, the servant of our princess, say. 

A Citizen. Hear him, hear ^Esop, silence, ho, hear him ! 

Another Cit. Friends, lend this man an ear who bears some news 
With him; he is the faithful servant of 

Another Cit. Shut up, we know, we hear him! — Speak, ^sop — 
The news, what are the news thou hast, we hear. 

^^S02). Our high priest's mother. Alexandra, our 
Fair princess, celebrates the coming eve 
At Jericho her son's promotion by 
A sumptuous feast, to which you all, who may 
Before this day's decline, that city reach, 
Are welcome, welcome rich and poor! A cheer 
For the princess, ho ! a cheer for the princess ! 

Crowd. Hail princess ! Long live the princess. [Exit croicd. 

Sab. What more 

Can Alexandra wish now that her son 
The longed for furtherance secured ? He is 
A brilliant youth, and she may weep with joy. 



34 HEROD. 

yEsop. Oh, she was sighing for this blessed day. 
And may no cloud her sunny visions dim. — 
The king was pale and bit his under lip 
When him the roaring mass would not, as king 
Salute, while they Hyrcanus and the youth 
Kejoicingly did hail.— How may things end ? 

Sab. How may things end ? 

JEsop. Yes, Sabion, I have thoughts 

So odd that I would fain be called a fool. 

Sab. What are thy thoughts? 

yEsojJ. ' My thoughts ? 

Sab. Ay, let me hear 

Thy thoughts ; perchance we guess and fear the same. 

^■Esop. I fear the worst, and guess that schemes are ripe 
Against the Asmoueans. — I hit thy guess ? 

Sab. Humph — 

uEsop. Humph, well, I wish thou couldst convince me that 

I am a fool. — There is no amity 
Betwixt the princess and the king, who did 
Against his will the youth promote, and that 
Acclaim the king makes jealous of the prince. 
The princess still on Cleopatra counts. 
And through Antonius' mistress m^^ch caa do. 
Aristobulus would not minister 
Had Egypt through that Roman not prevailed 
To put the mitre where it justly rests 

Sib. What could this happy state of things upset, 
Aristobulus being in his place? 

^Esop. As was Ananelus ejected though 
In violation of our sacred Law. 
There is a tempest brewing in the air, 
I smell it, Sabion, smell it and I pray 
That He in Heaven's shield the guiltless heads. — 
Enough of this, it softens me to tears. 
Thou wilt to Jericho with me proceed 
There tankards huge are filled for thee and all. — 
I prattle forth when I should be where I 
Am wanted most.— Wilt thou to Jericho? 

Sab. Go on thy way, my horse will bring me there 
In time. I have some business here to do. 

^snp. Thoii must not disappoint the princess, man, 
Who would in thee a loyal countenance miss. 

Sab. I shall be there if I be yet alive. 

^nop. Come not too late and bring what friends thou hast. 
Why, it is sultry to be sure to-tlay. 

Sab. It is a glowing noon. Farewell. I must 
Return and see my folks at home. 

^Esop. Farewell. [Exit ^sop. 

Sab. That honest prattler bears his heart upon 
His tongue, and sees what every one-eyed man 
Can dreaming see. Proud Alexandra on my 
Adherence counts which makes the monarch hate 
Me in extreme. He bears me rancor since 
By mine device, he knows too well, the shrewd 
Antipater was murderously slain. 
It is a risky game I play, taut I 
Must try to make the king believe I am 



HEROD. 35 

His friend by keeping him apprised of what 

Concerning Alexandra's moves I know. — 

Thy cause is lost, my princess, thus forgive 

That on thy downfall I attempt to live. | Exit. 

SCENE IV. 

Jericho. Night. A garden before Alexandra's mansion all 
illuminated. Noise and music heard. 
Enter Eubycles. 
Eurycles. So am since hours I hanging, like a wolf 
About a stinking carcass, round this house, 
And wrapt in dusky twilight I did many 
A secret overhear which clearly show 
Some tapers here mean gory work to-night. 
I could not well connect the purport of 
The whispered talk except that drowning in 
A fish-pond is the meditated sport. 
And this while swimming in a playful mood. 
Who is the cub to get the dip 1 have 
To guess.- -Hush, another pair come to consult 
In dark. I must withdraw just far enough 
To catch the substance of tlie low discourse. 

{He with'iraics. Pheroras and Phabatus Enter). 

Pher. Now mark me well, the new-tledged priest must go, 
Be drowned in sport, of course, to suffocate 
Suspicion 'gaitist the king and court He must 
Be dipped, Phabatus, or the work of years 
Is lost. It is an act of self-defense. 

Phiih. I have the parties trained for the affair. 
Once in the wave he never shall return; 
The Galls will dip him till his breath is out. 
But how to get him there, that is the pinch. 

Pher. Let me take care of this. I have a means 
Concocted with the king to tempt him there, 
"When thou must do the rest if thou art man 
Enough thy furtherance to ett'ect. It is 
A bidding which a favor can be deemed. 

Phah. liely on me the moment he is there. 

[The king comes forth . 
He shall be drowned or I will drown myself. 

PJier. I see the king who likely seeks for me. — 
Go hold in readiness thy valiant band. [Exit Phabatus. 

Enry. [etne7yjing[ I will accost him now; but lo! the king! 
Well, be it so, I still approach the prince. — [Steppiug fortli. 

Dear lord, excuse an uninvited guest. 
But thee obeying I did follow here. 

Her. [drawing near Pheroras] Who is that man emerging from 
the darkv 

Pher. He took me by surprise, I do profess. 
But own he is a man I like, a Greek, 
A wary Spartan who the king would serve, 
And bids a fortune to repay the right 
Of being one of thy devoted suite. [CJieers and nnisic heard. 

Her. What canst thou do a common ro^ue could not ? 

Enry. I can my lord's intention make the mine. 
His purpose serve at cost of limb and life, 



36 HEKOD. 

His secrets bury in my faithful breast, 
Unfolding such as I can steal of foes. 
There is no task I shiin a man can do. 

Her. Of all the Grecian creeds the which is thine ? 

Eiiry. That one by which I best can thrive below 
I trust a feast is lietter than a fast, 
That he who dares not run will corae the last, 
That five is more than four, and three than two. 
That what is best for me I sure must do. 

Her. Thou art of Satan's most tenacious boys, 
1 see, and canst do useful work in my 
Employ. The Greeks are great in every sense. — 
Is he not privy to our dark design ? [ To Plieroras. 

Phev. Not tiiat I know, unless he heard me to 
Phabatus speak. [LooMng at Evrycles. 

Eurij. I heard or heard not, just 

As yoii would have me framed. 

Her. Thy fortune we 

Pecline, but do thy service readily 
Accept. Acquaint him, prince, with our intents 
To-night, and let the others welcome him 
As guest.— Suggest the garden for a cool 
Disport. The air is close and they are all 
Intoxicate, with merriment and wine. 

[Phcroras and Enryrles enter the houae, ivheuce noise, cheei^s 
and rniisic isKiie fill the time.] 

Her. So must it be or I am soon undone, 
The people treat me not as monarch, whilst 
The priestly grandchild and his grandsire live. 
Thou first, my boy, and then the old out of 
My path must come. Pah, conscience, conscience, when 
One sees that nature none hath in her course. 
What is there is and that is all that is. 
There is necessity and force. That kind 
Which strongest is in mould survives the rest. 
There is no conscience in great nature's realms! 
It is the bugal)t)o by woman nursed 
And superstitious priests, as if not on 
The fly the spider, and on both the bird 
Doth feed, as on the lamb the wolf, and on 
The harmless beast mankind. But man ! — Yea, man 
With soul, with reason, conscience, choice; the lord 
Of earth, and Heaven's image -man should be— what ? 
Divine! infallible, perfect, Hke— hke whom? 
Well here we stop.— Like whom ? The story tells 
What saints they were who taught us to be good. 
See father Abraham his concubine 
And bal)e, to please her jealous mistress, drive 
To dreary wilderness with bread and water 
For a day. See cunning Jacob Esau's rights 
Appropriating by a rogish trick; 
His saintly sons enslave their flesh and blood. 
See Moses murder in a fit of rage, 
Aaron shape an idol for the mob. 
Why speak of David who the husl)and slays 
To iiide the lechery of adulterous sheets ! 
Why name his darling whose death he bewails. 



HEROD. 37 

After the chase the son his father gave ! 
A goocliy multitude of saints these are 
To whom compared I am, of course, profane; 
Nay, too profane to rule this godly race ! 
I am not of the Asmoneau's blood, 
And as in clipping brother's ears I can 
Antigonus not match, I shall confine 
Myself to clipping heads and drowning those 
I like not in my way. — When thou art still, 
Hyrcanug, no Endor's Witch thy slumber shall 
Disturb. But there is time for thee, old man; 
Thy tiedgeling must be first enskied, and thou 
Shalt follow him.- -The doors are opening wide; 
The guests must not behold me here alone. [Exit. 

[Serrants bearing torches open the doom. The Queen, Alexan- 
dra, Salome, and other ladies follotved. by Hyrcanns, Aristob- 
ulus, Pheroras, Diopha)itii>s, Saraniellas, Joseph, Phabntns, 
Corinthus, Eiirycles, Sabiou, and yEsop come forth.] 

JEsop. More lights! Illumine the groves, ho, niore lights! — 
The groves are cool, delicious cool. The prince 
Is right, the air beneath the roof is hot. 
Sultry, fearful, fearful. — Bring lights, more lights! 
[The ladies attotded lose themselves in the next grove.} 

P/if/-. Who leads us to the coolest spot? A breeze, 
A breeze is worth a million at this hour. 
Where are your basins, ^sop ? Lead us where 
Some waters flow. I own that in mine eyes 
The happiest of creatures is the fish. 

Arist. Come prince, my lords come on, I lead you where 
The finny denizens in cool disport. 
Our spacious gardens will your want supply. — 
See that the fish-ponds be by torches lit.— [ To ^sop who leaves. 
Where is the king? I miss'the king! 

Phab. The king, 

Sweet prince, within these pleasure-grounds somewhere 
Sojourns, he having found the walls too close 
Before our perspiration forced us to 
Desert the wines. Our noise will draw him near. 

Hyr. Dear friends, I feel my limbs are weaker than 
My will. Oppressive age is mounted on 
My back, to whom submitting I must seek 
A spot to rest my head. Be joyous, friends, 
Without my useless companv. The wine. 
The humid air and noise assail my nerves. 
The gracious Lord protect you all. Good night. 

All. Good night, dear sir. \Sonie kiss his hand. 

^sop. [who re-entered] Come, holy sire, I will 
Thy rooms unlock and to thy comfort see. \E.rit ivith Hyrcanus. 

Arist. Now after me who longs to drink the breeze. [Exeunt all. 



A place in, the garden. 

Enter Herod and Sabiox. 

Her. That she no friendly feeling nursed for us 
We knew it well, but hoped that change of things 



^8 HEROD. 

Would in her bosom work an equal change. 
Her son's promotion ought to sate her pride. 
What could we do we have not done for her 
Whose vows and smiles, 'tis clear, we cannot trust? 
Still scheming, raging 'gainst her daughter's lord! 
What are the grievances she may advance? 

Sab I know not all, save that she fears thou art 
Not true to her, and wouldst exterminate 
The Asmonean stock, and this to Egypt she 
Impugning wrote, imploring aid against 
Thy tameless cruelty; which knowing I 
Feit bound thee of "her doings to apprise, 
Expecting it might some calamity 
Avert, and clearly prove that Sabion is 
Not hostile to thy beneficial sway. 
Some idle tongues, I know, by false reports 
Upon my head have put a heavy guilt 
Which to disprove I ever sought a chance. 

Her. Disprove not what no man could ever prove. 
Or Sabion woiild not thus to Herod speak. 
Our father's death by Malichus was planned. 
And thou art guiltless of the heinous crime 
Avenged by us on the assassin's head. 
But wilt thou truly be our trusty friend ? 

Sab. If Herod doubts why should him Sabion serve 
Before conviction takes suspicion's place? 
I will be neutral in this land's affair. 
The hand is strong that yields the helm of state, 
And time will show that Sabion means it well. 

Her. Thy honored age and wisdom we require 
And thy impatience in thy favor pleads. 
We make thee partner of oui great resolves. 
And will, henceforth, behold in thee a friend 
With all the claims of confidential trust. 
Keep us informed of all weighty steps 

And be assured we bear thee ia our mind. — [Exit Sabion. 

This treacherous move thy nature's bent betrays, 
And Autipater's voice I hear exclaim : 
"That murderous knave did help to cut me off !'" 
I make thee spy before to hell thy ghost 
I send. — That woman smells my puri)Ose, and 
The Koman's harlot on the > ile I bate! — [Enter AristobnJ)(s. 
There comes the bird I plumed for Pluto's pit 
As Druids plume tlieir beasts for slaughter marked. — 
Alone, my ])oy, withoiat a girl to hug! 
In search of Avhom didst thou the revellers tly? 

Arist. In search of him I do as father love. f/v/.s.sr.s' Herod. 

Oh dear, Jonathan loved not David more 
Than I my sister's royal codsoi t love. 
Thy absence tells me what in thee I have. 
And, missing thee, I felt so lonesome, soft. 
And overcome of indefinable pangs 
That weeping only could relieve my heart. 
What is it, dear, that makes me sad to-night? 

Herod. A whim, a sentimental whim, my boy. 
What else? Is all not to thy liking now? | Takhuj In'fi hand. 



HEROD. 39 

Look here, my boy, thy love is well bestowed 
On one who would a crown set on thy head. 

Arist. Oh no, no dear, no crown ; I would I wore 
The mitre not which weighs me down. It is 
An awful thingr to be a minister 
Of the Most High, and meditating stand 
Betwixt the skies and man. Remembering 
The dreadful One to whom for Israel 
I prayed and thine triumphal rule, methought, 
The Sanctuary was ablaze with light 
■Of seraphim my fancy eyed around, 
— Celestial sprights our prophets often see — 
I trembling stood upon the altar's ground, 
Scarce heard the Levites' song nor trumpet's sound. 
Then sank and prayed upon my bended knee. 

Herod. Thy mood, my darling prince, affects my heart 
And is no temper for a merry feast. 
Come, child, and let no t-enseless notion take 
Possession of thy unbeclouded youth. 
Why, why, thou art the cause and host of this 
Event, and wouldst thy guests have dance with thee 
And weep '? These things go ill together, dear. 
If thou a longing hast to see me weep, 
I am wrought up to woman's softness at 
Thy touch. — The air in this environment 
Appears prophetic or the gods betray 
The webs invisible of mortal brains. [Aside 

Arist. What didst thou mutter just I did not hear? 

Her. I muttered at the heat which spares no king. 
Is not a cooler place aroimd us here? 

Arist. Why, yes, my dear, as cool as when tha heavens 
Their blessed showers pour on earth. Am I 
Not selfish thus thy joyance to abate 
With thoughts unhealthy as the vapor of 
A swampy land? Thou dost not think me drunk? 

Her. I would the wine had spoken what thou saidst. 
I know not why thy humor works on me 

Arist. I emptied many a goblet to thy health 
But could the morbid sentiments not force 
Out of my breast. 

Her. I banish them straightway. 

Come let us wager. He who fleeter runs 
Shall of Judea have the fleetest steed 
As price. No talk, no talk, a word, a bet ! 
I swim in perspiration, thou will win. 

Arist. Agreed! save one condition I impose. 

Her. I should not faster run than thou? 

Arist. Not let 

Me winner be without a racing test. 
We start, thou fourteen feet ahead of me, 
And if I touch thee with my outstretched hand 
I claim the steed. 

Her. The steed be thine if I 

Within thy touch come ere we reach the pond. 
But knowest thou that I with Bedouins fought. 
Who are the fleetest of the desert's tribes, 
Yet ever overtook the foe I chased ? 



40 HEROD. 

Arist. If this be so, then loss cannot disgrace 
Me should I lack in speed, while thy defeat 
My triumph to myself would mar. I would 
My vanity at thy expense not feed. 

Her. 1 risk my fame in this.— Well, fourteen feet? 

Arist. Ye=, measure fourteen feet and then we start. 
[Herod measiwes fourteen feet, counting one, two, three; they 
run toirard the grove.\ 

SCENE VI. 

Before a fish-pond. 

Pherobas and the guests of the court. Some are bathing afar; 
torches burning. 

Pheroras. Haste on, boys, haste; there in the groves undress; 
With water mix you wine-benumbed heads. 
I join you soon, it is a healthful sport. — 
Undress, undress, I see them yonder, come. 

[Aside to Eurycles whowithdraivs. 

Enter Herod closely follou-ed by Abistobulus icho overtakes him. 

Arist. The steed, Judea's fleetest steed is mine! 

Plier. It must be fleet indeed thee to outrun, 
My prince. — The king is out of breath and beaten ! 

Her. And not without resistance, to be sure. 
If prince Aristobulus speed in all 
As well as in his feet, he'll beat the world. 

Pher. Look how the boys are sporting in the waves. 
There seems delight to bathe in torchlight's gleam. 

Her. I am disposed to partake of the sport 
And try m water to regain what I 
By land have lost. Who is that fellow there 
Who like a seal the billows cuts in twain? 

Pher. It is the Spartan who did challenge all 
To match his quickness in the swimming art ; 
He bids a fortune none is prone to get. 

Arist. Were it a fitting wager I would dare 
To cope with him in skill, but would not with 
A heathen for a prize engage. With one 
Of you I gladly would the pond divide. 
And either forfeit what I racing won 
Or double it should victory be mine. [Enter ^sop^ 

Her. Stood I not beaten thus and sweating I 
Once more would stake my reputation and 
Another steed. But now, Pheroras, thou 
The challenge take, or I will think a pike * 

Can more accomplish than a valiant prince. 

Pher. I take the challenge, prince. 
^sop. I to Aristobulus] My lord, my prince, 

Night is no time for such a risky play. 
Good princes, for your sake I do beseech, 
Postpone the competition, 'tis too late. 

Pher. Shall we postpone it for some other hour? 
I fear no darkness when the torches burn. 

Arist. I go ahead if thou wilt follow me. 

Pher. I follow thee, although I lose the game. | They leave . 



HEROD. 41 

Her. [to jEsop] You let us know who of the two did win. 
We to the ladies must repair, whom we 
Ungallautly too long forsook to-night. 
Where is the queen and mother at this hour ? 

^sop. They from the night's humidity in the 
Saloon which fronts this garden refuge sought, 
My lord. Shall I accompany the king? 

Her. No need of this; the path is known to us. [Exit Herod. 

^so^). Oh, Lord forgive if I suspect these men 
Whose outward seldom mirrors what they are. — 
I hear them plnnge, but see them not; my sight 
Is dim and torches dazzle me. But hark! [Voices heard afar. 
Voices and laughter. — Sabion is not there, 
Not one among the throng on whom to count 
Should anything the darling youth befall. 

A Voice, [from afar] No life in him! hesinks, is drowned— dead! 

yEsop. What was it ? Dead ! Drowned ! The echo of 
My voice I fear, so rings the bittern's wail 
In dead of night. — My prince, what happened? — Lord! 

Pher. [wlio enters half dressed] Go, run, the king, the queen, 
— call doctors here. — 
There might be help yet. — Run, the prince is drowned ! 

u^sop. Drowned, the prince ! What prince, the high priest, no ? 

Pher. They say he breathes yet; yonder in the grove 
They try him to reanimate. — Be gone! 

^sop. Thou gracious Power, Sovereign of the skies. 
Thy will be done, but I am loath to live. — 
My prince, my gentle prince, oh sacred child! 
Ah, ah, ah, drowned, drowned, drowned, — dead! [Exit. 

Pher. [enter Phabatus and Eitrycles] That pious beast annoys 
me with his looks. 
That godly ass perchance may smell the truth 
And with his brays upstir the kicking herd. — 
You did your duty, boys, but it behooves 
Us to misguide suspicion off our track. 
Come let us overtake that howling cIoavu 
And mix our wailing with his assish cries. 
That patch of piety defies all bribes. 
And for his mistress and her cub would die. [Exeunt all, 

SCENE VII. 

A saloon. 
The king, the queen, Alexandka, Salome, and attendance. 

Herod. Yes, Ave are beaten, ladies, hoping though 
It will your measure of our valor not 
Ai¥ect. We did our best, biit strove in vain. 
All Greece would smile to see a high priest and 
A monarch run a race, but we are glad 
That few did witness our ungraced defeat. 

Mart. I fear the king was willing to award 
The prize else not an Arab could outwing 
My lord. I am not sorry Herod lost 
The game, knowing the joy the steed will bring 
To him. 



} HEROD, 

Alex. He is not one at trifles to 
Eejoice. I find him older since in rank 
He rose. He thinks the sacred calling more 
Than he deserves, so humble, modest is 
My dearest son. Yet lacks he not in nerve 
When raanly enterprise provokes, and, like 
His glorious ancestors, could calmly face 
A host of armed foes, but is a lamb 

In innocence when charmed by a smile. — [^sop enters weeping. 
Why, -fEsop, weeping! ^Esop — thy speech — thy speech! — 

^sop. Thou wilt henceforth the tiger's growl prefer 
To my despair-impregnate speech to-day. — 
My speech is death! — death, princess, is my speech! 
Ah, ah, ah, drowned, my gentle prince, drowned 

All. [startled] Who drowned '? 

Her. What prince? How drowned? 

Mart. Speak fool! — 

u^sop. [weejniig] Ah, ah, my princess, thy son — drowned— dead. 

[To Alexandra. 

Alex. My son! my boy, my high priest, drowned — dead! 
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ! — Go to, 
Gray devil- nay, dear ^sop — deny it — ha! 
My son, Aristobulus, drowned, dead? 

Enter Phekoras, Phabatus, and Eukycles. 

^sop. I as before] Dead, dead thy son — forever dead — dead — 
dead.- 
They saw him, they know it all— dead, forever dead. — 

[Fearful paxise. 

Alex. Thy dark decrees are fearful, dreadful Lord! 
Now darken, sun, I hate to see thy light! 
My boy, my boy, my son, O, O, O! mute, 
Forever mute tiiy lips that ministered 
To-day to twenty myriad- throbbing hearts! — 
Oh daughter, daughter, dead, thy brother dead! [To Mariamne. 
My heir, my darling drowned in the flood 
And all is blackness. — Oh my wits, my wits 
Are turning!- (xraces, powers, heavens, where is 
My dearest, sweetest, gentlest, godliest child! — 

[E.rit Alexandra foUdUK'd by ,so)iie ladies. 
Mart, [awakimj from amazement] Yea, black is all, the skies, 

the stars, this world 
Are black. — Mourn. Israel, your noblest died! 
And how, and how, my lord, our brother drowned! 

Her. My consternation holds my senses bound; 
I have a tongue but scarce the use of it. — 
Prince, say how that ungracious blow was dealt 
To us by fate. — How did our high priest die? [ To PJieroras. 

Piter. We laid a wager to traverse the pond 
And I was beaten by his faster sweep. 
But while exhausted trying to re-cross 
He Avas i)rovoked to show his di^'iug strength 
At seeing many sound the fish-pond's deep. 
He plunging straight repeatedly did stay 
A longer ])ause than others could endure 
Beneath the waters suffocating load. 
Until not re-emerging, sejirch was made 



HEROD. 43 

For him wlio, brought to sight, was lifeless, pale 
And cold. All eflForts to revive him failed. 

Enter Diophantus, Joseph, Cokinthus and SarameijL,as. 
Her. It is a verdict passed in heaven's height 
That by the flood onr brother should depart. 
Our heart is bleeding with the wounds of woe 
We cannot utter in the shape of words. 
In deepest mourning shall for thirty days 
Our court and country sorrow for their priest, 
Who shall with royal honors be interred. 

[They witlulraw, while the curtain slowly descends. The sound 
of a muffled drum is lieard.] 



ACT III, 



A room in the palace. 
Enter Alexandka, in mourning and, Sabion. 

Alex. The news is old to me, dear friend, that they 
Did long my son's destruction plan, alas. 
And carry out to make me hopeless here. 
And now the black assassin orders me 
To wither tinder his abhorrent eye, 
Environed by a pack of watchful spies ! 
My hopes, my hopes, oh Sabion, buried are 
With him, save vengeance, vengeance burning in 
My soul and hurling fever heat throughout 
My nerves ! If ever thou my child didst love, 
Advise hoAV that outrageous crime could be 
Avenged. But patience, I must wait my time. 
Believe, so hot in me is vengeance that 
The fiend I hate would soon my venom feel 
But for good Cleopatra, who did swear 
By all her means the monster to undo 

Sab. She can through Antony his vitals wound. 
And cause his downfall ere he is aAvare. 
I know no surer means to strike thy foe, 
Who hath no friend except his menial throng. 

Alecr. She will not rest her head, she writes, before 
That Eoman calls him to account. 

Sab. And should 

His shrewdness some escape devise, what then? 

Ale.v. Then, Sabion, then — well, what wouldst thou begin 
With all my blood-fermenting wrongs heating 
Thy spirit to a vengeful pitch. What then ! 
I hear Aristobulus cry Revenge! 

Sab. Here wisdom ends and accident must guide. 
I should woo prudence and my hour await; 
The chance may come thy thirsting hate to quench; 
No mortal is invulnerable in 
The lapse of time. — Or is within thy grasp 
A weapon to revenge the guileful deed ? 



44 HEROD. 

Alex. Hyrcanus could through Malchus undermine 
The tyrant's mig'ht, could I to action him 
Arouse; but his is not a temper to 
Be moved to a resentful, hoi dej^ree, 
Although I know his eyes are opening wide, 
And he the foul devices of his pet 
Begins to penetrate. He speaks not much 
But on his furrowed brow I read his thoughts. 

Sab. Would Malchus war if him Hyrcanus prayed? 

Alex. I doubt not this, had father but the will 
To ask ; for hostile is Arabia to 
The tyrant's rule. At all events he would 
A refuge readily accord to us, 
Whom black assassins menace at this court. 

Sab. How dost thou know he shares not in thy wish? 

Alex. Because I know he wishes naught but rest 
And is a man who Avounded would not wound; 
Which notwithstanding I unceasing shall 
Him with entreaties importune until 
For sake of peace he to some move consents. 

Sab. Hast thou a trusty person to dispatch 
With what he might be prone to send abroad ? 
It is not safe to place transactions of 
Such import, black on white, in any hand, 
Unless it rather torture's rack sustained 
Than yield the purport folded in its trust. 

Alex. Describe thyself not whom since years I found 
A man high-minded and with virtue fraught. 
Thou hast my secrets, hast my love withal ; 
As on my bosom I on thine rely. 
Our purpose being to effect his fall 
Who mocks our faith for which we live and die. [Exit, 

Sab. 'Tis good that foreheads are not made of glass 
Nor thoughts of mettle to excite the eye, 
Else would this world a dungeon be for knaves 
To whom against my will I do belong. 
The devil trains me fur Abaddon's maw; 
He gently seized upon my finger first. 
The wrist, the arm he playingly secured; 
The trunk he sneering jerked and calls it his. 
And now the soul re-ists, resists in vain. [Exit Sabion^ 



At Hyrcanus' House. 
Enter 'H.YRGAT>ivs. 

Hyrcanus. What is this lifeV what bids this life? — A dream^ 
A painful, frightful dream with phautoms odd 
And fleeting, fleeting, fleeting, save the woes 
Which have substantial weight and withering force. 
Rule, power — vanity of vanities! 
The grea ! — unfounded, senseless jealousy — 
The great, the great, what have the great but great 
Calamities, despair, heartburnings which are 
To them in humbler cradles rocked unknown ! 
A million peasants grow old, grow white with age, 



HEROD. 45 

"While under hundred princes ninety are 

Cut oft" in prime of youth, or so pursued 

By countless fears and traps, that hunted wolves 

To them are creatures tasting bliss. — Who dreams, 

In lowly cottage born, of poison, stabbing. 

Of mutilation, drowning, and what not 

Of treason rank-besotted courtlings hatch! — 

Distrust or trust I know not whom . Upon 

His head whom I did raise the guilt is put 

Of that atrocity which beais me down. — 

Could Herod thus repay what I for him 

Have done ? Thus in the bud my hope destroy. 

My daughter's son, the image of "his sires I 

If this be so, if I conviction get 

Of this, if I had proofs! — Ha, Phraates, friends, 

Whose warning love I on Euphrate's banks 

Unheeding gave no ear, forgive, good men, 

Forgive, if I by age untaught, learn truth 

Too late! — Depravity, though hideous thou 

In all thy various, shifting shapes, when thee 

Ingiatitude begets Sheol's ab>sms 

Rear nothing equal to thine horrid sight! — 

I know the world but half and find a fool 

Could wiser deal than I with him I Hedged. — 

Do! there she is, all sorrow, black and tears. — [Alexandra enters. 

My daughter brings what 1 am sated with. 

For no addition needs my boundless grief 

Alex, My son is buried unavenged, my lord, 
Should he un sorrowed rot within the dust? 
How could I him forget in whom I lived ! 

Hyr. The briny Hood which on thy cheek descends 
Will not revive him, princess, who is dead. 
Two moons their faces changed since we the last 
Obsequious honors him with royal pomp 
Did pay, when all a people grieved with us 
And with our anguish mixed their loyal tears. 
But what beginning hath must have an end. 
And to our mourning we should likewise set 
A bound, and not proceed as if we Heaven 
For gross injustice blamed. 

Alex. Then Herod did 

What Heaven bade him do. in slaying scores 
Of undefended men. If such be God's 
Behests then place assassins straight among 
The just, and from the Decalogue efface 
" Thou shalt not kill," since murder is no crime. 
But meritorious is the task to slay; 
Ah, and my sweet boy was murdered by God's will ! 

Hi/r. Interpret wiser, daughter, what I say. 
Thou knowest well the meaning of my speech 
As comfort given to thy bleeding heart. 
Ah, what can I, an old man thus betrayed, 
Do more for thee than share thy deep distress ! 

Alex. I would to Heaven thoxi couldst my vengeance share! 

Hyr. A high priest once should I resentment breed ? 

Alex. Doth not Jehovah with resentful wrath 



46 HEROD. 

The wicked smite who break the sacred Law V 
And is not life worth having on thy part? 

Hyv. What is worth having in a time hke this 
When fell corruption barefaced mocks the sun 
And blushing virtue must retired groan? 
Behold, behold how few they are who with 
The living word of the great God comply! 
Yea, from their sole unto their head there is 
No healthy spot but wounds and briaises 
And putrifying sores, and where the voice, 
The prophet to cry on their dealings — Woe ! 
As are the seasons in their fruitfulness 
Unlike, so are the times unequal in 
Their casts of men, some bringing forth a group 
Of demigods, who with their spirit's breeze 
Rejuvenate the unaspiring world 
And make creation of her sovereign boast; 
Some generating such a dwarfish kind 
As would in dread before a pigmy bow 
Who daring tries what sacred is profane! 
This dwarfish kind is ruling in this age 
So poor in men, in tyrant lords so rich! 

Ale.T. Alas, when man poor woman's weapon grasps. 
And, impotent of action, sighs and groans. 
Then to the distaft" whip that craven lord 
Who arrogantly claims the earth for him 
And thinks his mate a creature for his whims! 
Who should frail woman with her suckling babes 
Defend? her flagrant wrongs who should avenge? 
When did faint-heartedness itself accuse! 
The times! The ages !— Granted tliat the tide 
Of genius sweeps not unremittingly 
Athwart this gloom-enwrapped world, when was 
An age, a throne usurped by a slave, 
A reckless murderer, whose gory hand 
Defiles what by the flight of years, the blood 
Of saintly martyrs consecrated is 
To great Judea's heaven-guarded tribes. 
With full acquiescence of the rightful head 
To whom t'le millions for deliverance look! 
Art thou an heir of Mattathias' line? 

Hyr. I hear thy mother speak in thee, proud child. 
She, too, would have me fight, fight, fight!— Well, well, 
Now lead the way, my mouth-prompt heroine. 
And these stiff arms shall their dried sinews ply 
Thy vengeance to appease!— Whom shall I stab? 
Oh, there is yet force in this my trembling grij) 
To pieice a sleeper's undefended breast 
And with assassin's fame this life depart ! 

Alex. Why reason when to reason age and love 
Are deaf ? Now all is void and all is said 
And Herod's grace will soon my sorrows end. 

Hip-. Say plainly what with dignity I could 
For thee accomplish and it shall be done. 

Alex. Thou hast a friend in Malchus, why not save 
Thyself and me by flying thither where 
Uumeua(^ed we may end our days in peace. 



H E K O D . 47 

Hyr. It is thy fancy magnifying things; 
There is no token of a menace here. 

Alex. Wait not for thunder, tly the lightning's dart 
Before the skies gr w dim, premonishment 
And caution unavailing prove. The eyes 
Of hundred servile courtlings rest on us; 
They shadow every step, report each word 
With glossy tongue, impugning mien and look, 
Of credit sure by one who seeks pretense. 

Hyr. Cannot Mariamne sound his dark intents 
And us enlighten of his latent schemes? 

Alex. Speak not of her who craves her brother's fate, 
And sees a future drear as night and black. 
His flippant love confessions ever flow; 
To her belonged his heart, his throne, his all ; 
The heavens were too poor to buy her love. 
So pleading, sighing, vowing he persists 
Affirming he was true to her, not less 
To us, to thee, myself; which is as false 
As was his love to my bemourned son. 

Hyr. Daughter, here swear by the tremendous God 
Who with His breath can melt this massive earth, 
And perjury the soul's eternal curse 
Pronounced, swear that no doubt hath root in thee 
About thy offspring's preconcerted death! 

Alex. May Heaven never pardon my poor soul 
If I in Herod's foul contrivance doubt. 
Or his foreknowledge of thy grandchild's death ! 
Through Sabion I am certain that my heir 
A terror to the tyrant's conscience seemed. 

Hyr. Provide a man, I to Arabia write. 
And be prepared for our impending flight. [Exit Hyrcanus. 

Alex. Tjiis message I in Sabion's hands shall place. 
Although from Antony I hope to hear 
Whom Cleopatra promised to arouse 
Against the ruthless murderer of my child. 
But should she fail Arabia I prefer 
To this confinement in a monster's den 
Where, with a rageous hatred in the soul, 
I still must smile, the gall devouring which 
Envenoms every atom in my blood. [Exit Alexandra. 

SCENE III. 

' A room at Herod's. 
Enter Herod and Salome. 

Herod. I should believe thee that she loves me not. 
And this upon thy word who lovest not her.— 
She loves me not !— Sister the jaws of hell 
Are gaping at this sound! — She loves me not — 
What proofs are there to make thy censure good? 

Sal. Forget, dear brother, what in haste I said 
Solicitous of knowing that love returned 
Thou dost exuberantly nurse for her. 
I may her wrong, perchance, whom by the by, 
I love but less than thee, but never hate 
The dearest of thy choice. She being of 



48 HEROD. 

Thyself a part my enmity to lier 
Would half be thine . 

Her. She is a part of me; 

I feel it, scent it, see it, hear it, dream 
It, live on it. Mariamne is my soul 
Who ebbing leaves the body lifeless, cold. — 
But say, how did suspicion thy good sense 
Invade ? Didst thou of late her ways observe 
And find her manners liable to blame? 

Sal. Since she her likeness sent to Eome- 



Her. {hiteri-upts] To Rome 

Her likeness sent — by whom ? I heard not this. 

Sal, Did she not tell thee that through Dellius she 
To Antony her likeness sentV 

Her. No, no! 

Her lip did never utter such a word 
To me. She should have told me this — she should ! — 
Was Dellius caiise that she her likeness sent? 

S(tl. Which doth excuse her having done the thing. 
The Roman, struck with her excess of grace, 
Did her and fair Aristobulus — then 
Alive — deem beings of celestial mould 
And wished their image forwarded to Rome, 
To Antony who is his bosom's friend. 

Her. It throws no shade upon her honesty, 
Save that she never told me aught of this. 

Sal. Perhaps, because she would no jealousy 
Upstir in thy enamored breast. 

Her. [pensively] That was 

Not right, not as a loving wife should act. — 
But thou, Salome, hadst yet more to say, 
I think, when I did interrupt thy speech. — 
What didst thou notice since her likeness went 
To Rome? 

Sal. Did I of noting speak? 

Her. Thou didst. — 

Speak fearless, I command thee, speak ! It is 
Thy Herod's doom thou must confirm or free 
Him from the agony of doubt. — Did aught 
Mariamne which as woman thou woiddst blame? 
Didst thou not say Mariamne loves me not? 

Sal. I do retract what I in love to thee 
Have said unable to substantiate 
What as foundation but conjecture has. 

Her. And thy conjecture might not groundless be; 
Its origin and nature let me hear, 
And how it took posession of thy mind. 

Sal. My king, I blush to show a weakness I 
In others would reproach. I am, like thee. 
Not quite unjealous of my husband's love 
I which Mariamne, I suspect, is deej). 

Her. [<tmazed\ Ye powers who in Hades rule — what must 
I hear! — Thy Joseph and Mariamne, is 
Itso?— 

Sal. If apprenension leads me not astray.- 
A grave offence it is to guess such things, 
I know, but then he never ceases of 



HEROD 



49 



Her woudrous loveliness to speak, and her 
I smiling saw on him with qneenly grace 
When me she treated to a passing leer. 

ifer. I am coufouuded! What! Thy Joseph? Why, 
I trusted him the most of all who s-erve [Enter iiiessenyer. 

Me since I rule this laud.— Who is that man 
Who comes?-~l8 Antony thy lord?- 

Mess. His will 

Enjoined me to let thy majesty 
This have which I from Laodicea bring, 
And ask reply. 

He)', [takes the paj>e/'.sj We will attend to thee. 

[Exit messengir. 
I break the seal and feel the news is grave. 
My heart is throbbing faster than it should. 
[Heads] "Impatient justice bids Judea's king 
To hasten hither where a court shall try 
The weight of guilt put on his loyal head. 
Our eagerness to justify our friend 
And save his reputation now obscured 
Requires Herod to be prompt in speed. 

Antony." 
I like this courtesy not much, and see 
My foes are bitsy to promote my fall, 
Above all Alexandra, who the worst 
Is of the baneful crew. — I must to him 
Who may as murderer arraign me and 
Abridge my days, and she I worship will 
Perchance "my death salute and with thy fox 
Divide her fair, lascivious self and bed!— 
Salome, Salome, what furious tempest did 
Thy hint within my inmost soul conjure! — 
She loves me not!— My throne I gave could I 
Her bosom's hidden longings penetrate! 
But hold! — I must to Laodicea go v 

And will thy husband make her trusty knight 
Who should her slay— such wiJl be my command — 
In case convicted ol my guilt I fall. 
This will them closer bring and give thee chance 
To find if thy conjecture hath a ground. — 
I shudder at the thought that we, perhaps. 
Thy Joseph and my sweet Mariamne wrong. 

Sal Thine is but part of my profouuder fear. \Kvtcr SahioK. 
Her. Be still, we shall be sure, we must lie sure.— 
I have a man, a subtile Greek, who will 
Assist thee in the secret search. — Go send 

Me Jo.seph here I will the task impose.— | t:.rH Scdowe. 

Come, Sabion, tell us what is good and new. 
Salj. {producing a letter\ What new is this will tel', but whether 

this 
Be good, thy majesty may judge. 

Her. [ha ring read the paper\ His head 

Must off, that withered, treacherous priest!— I am 
Thy debtor, Sabion.— Ha. a tyrant 1! 
A murderer! He would to Malchus with 
His daughter fly. I was ungrateful, false! 
Corinthus, ho!— The traitor dies to-day ! | En f> r ( \n /.. {I, n.^. 



50 H E K O D . 

Select some warriors from our valiant guard 
And bring Hyrcauus well escorted here ! 

[Corinthus leaves, while Herod walks tip and doirii excited. 

Sab. My lord, I would not people knew I played 
This game which out of loyalty to thee 
I undertook. The punishment thou on 
Hyrcanus wouldst inflict is, in my view, 
Severe, and first consider what such step 
Involves. 

Hei'. It is considered well and weighed. 

Sab. It will unfit me for thy further use 
And I henceforth will be the butt of scorn . 

Her. Thou must withdraw, while we the traitor question, 
The rest we stifle under us. — Withdraw; 
Is Herod's friendship not enough for thee? 

Sab. With all I can this friendship I repay. [E.rit. 

Her. The priest is tired of his waning days 
And I am tired of himself and brood. 
This helps us all, him to a leap into 
Hoar Abraham's lap; her to another chance 
Vile Egypt to invoke; and me it rids 
Of him, the last aspirant to my throne. — 

Enter Corinthus and Hyrcanus (jitarded. 
My holy sire, supposing thou hadst might 
How wouldst a man thou treat who eats thy bread, 
Professes love and gratitude to thee 
Yet by his acts betrays he is thy foe? 

Hijr. Treat him as foe who would as foe thee treat 
For he who strives to slay thee thou mayst slay. 
The LaAV is on his side who life defends. 

Her. And did the Law's injunctions not thy arm 
Unbrace when thou befouling didst my nam? 
To Malchus on this paper send? | lluudiuii a paper. 

Hyr. [fjJanc.itig at the paper] I need 
Not blushingly confirm what I have said. 

Her. Traitor! — ^Not blush to say, to write Avlr.it none 
Alive can truthfully maintain! Not blush 
To call me tyrant, murderer! — Traitor! 

Hyr. There is no treason in this instrument 
Unless to speak plain truth is treason in 
Thy time of rule ; for what I said is true. 
As true as thou art more thine foe than I. 

Her. Perfideous, slanderous tongue! — Away with him 
And let, before an hour, me see his head ! 

Hyr. Ungrateful, vindictive, and reckless king! 
So many guiltless heads by thee did fall", 
But none so innocent and true as I 
And the dear youth whose blood is on thy head. — 
I am no traitor, Heaven knows it well, 
But gave thee all what I by right possessed. 
Nor did I envy thy exalted state 
Decreed to thee by unresisting fate. 
My grandchild fell by thy inhuman plan 
And so I fall, no traitor hut — a man. 

\IIyrca litis, CorintJius, and the ijuard.'^ lea re 



HEROD. 51 

Her. [after a pause] The last of stumbling-stones is now 
removed, 
And that gray fool is wise, but wise too late. — 
Still where am I? How far am I?— Oh love, 
What is the substance thou art made of, craze? 
A hundred thousand maidens I can have 
And, like Ahasverus, the fairest choose. 
Or have a dozen to beguile my time, 
But vain is reason, thought, resolve! I love 
Mariamne and — she loves me not. — With Joseph! — 
A host of goblins whisper it at night — 

With Joseph! — There he is, I miist be cool. — [Enter Joseph. 

Thou comest in time; I think of thee. — I am 
Ill-tempered, Joseph— treason — he must bleed! — 

Jos. I pity him who thus the king hath moved. 
Who is the luckless fallen in thy grace? 

Her. I am too sullen, ask me not too much, 
But hear wherein thou canst thy merits raise. — 
I must be gone, to Antony I must ; 
Some state affairs of grave importance call 
Me hence. Pheroras will the helm of state 
Direct, while thee I guardian make of what 
Is dearest in this world to me. 

Jos. And I, 

My lord, shall guard it with the dragon's eye 
To Avhom ^etes did his fleece entrust. 

Her. Thou hast a notion what the treasure is ? 

Jos. Not in the least, but be it what it may 
I for its safety answer with my life . 

Her. That is a venture, man; suppose I made 
Thee of a woman's virtue guard, would all 
The eyes of Argus be sufficient watch? 

Jos. If there be virtue in a woman's breast 
She wants no guardian to maintain it pure. 

Her. But where the woman find, thou meanst to say. 
Who hath a virtue stainless in her breast V 

Jos. I mean not so, indeed; the king who claims 
That thousand women furnish not one whole 
Did sure no justice do the tender sex. 
I nor my mother would nor wife insult 
By rating lightly their devotion's worth. 

Her. How high wouldst thou Mariamne's virtue rate? 

Jos. As high, my lord, as any virtuous queen's 
The story praises as devoted, pure. 
Above temptation stands our beauteous queen. 

Her. No Antony or Ctesar could her win ? 

Jos. I dare maintain she could a world contempt, 
And more than this those potentates have not. 

Her. Thou art an idolizer of my queen. — 

Jos. If all the idols were as fair as she 
Then would Jehovah's jealousy be vain. — 
The queen as many votaries commands 
As beauty, grace and virtue ever did. 

Her. It is a danger to be thus adored; 
How easy may such consciousness entice! — 
But let hair-splitting theories and phrase; 
The word is pliant on the pliant lip. — 



52 HEROD. 

I said I must to Antony, and thee 

I charge to be the queen's auspicious guard 

Jus. \surprised\ Uefiue my duty and be sure 'tis done. — 
I hear the charge but fail to catch the sense. 

Her. The deiiuition hear and mark it well. — 
She is a woman, mark, and wants a man 
Beguiling her monotonous hours by speech 
And rj^entle intercourse as doth befat 
A queen.— She is a woman tender, sweet, 
Att'ectionate, and wondrous soft, perchance 
Solicitous about her husband's weal 
Who shall be thus afar; — she Avants a friend 
If she must sigh to sigh with her, if she 
Must weep to weep with her. — Is this not clear.— 
She is a woman loving company. — 
Propitious powers, I am sorely tried! 

<7t).s. What jjrim calamity impending frowns 
Which clouds the humor of my lord, the king? 

Her. Ask not, I am betrayed, by friend and foe 
Betrayed, my life hangs on a thread and if 
I die, if never I return, my queen. 
My wife — without her love I scorn the bliss 
Of all the skies! — To know M iriamue in 
Another's arms — Joseph, if I must die 
Now hear what I command — if I must die — 
Mariamne must not live! — Why art thou pale? 
Art sorry for the queen '? 

Jos. My lord, the queen! 

Her. Yes, yes, the queeo, thou wouldst my testament 
Disdain should I beheaded sink, thou AvouldstV — 

Jos. Let me my senses gather ere I speak.- 
Are things so dirk that such must be our theme? 

Her. They are so dark. — Now answer, for my time 
Is short. 

Jos. I am no murderer, my lord, 
Hope all will tnrn out brigliter in the run 
Of hours; would rather slay myself than rob 
The world of her most precious jewel; but I 
Am subject to thy royal will, and must 
In all comply with thy behest. | E titer Pheroras. 

Her. Well said ; 

No more; I see my brother come, let us 
Alone and bury tleep what I have spoken. [En-it Joseph. 

Pher. He wdngs per extra post to Eden's gates, j^,. y^. 
The naughty priest; I saw his lieadless frame. — T 

The throngs are fastly crowding every street, ~T^ ''"'■^ 

The tigress' fury sparkling in their eyes; — icrr-^, 

I charged the guard to be on the alert. [Enter Phabatus. 

Her. What now ? 

Pluib. A bulky mob is marching toward 

The palace swearing loud and clamoring 
Against the king, and asking why the priest 
Was slain. I iiover saw a rage like theirs. 

Plier. Shidl I the signal give which moves ihe troops? 

Her. No force tliis time. Let me the crowd appease; 
My explanation may perchance suffice. 
Go tell them I will straight upon the wall 



HEROD. 53 

Appear and so convince them that they will 
Be on my side; snbdue them by discourse. 

[To rhabatus who goes. 
And see that Sabion be among the mass. — 
This hour a revolution wrought iu my 
Designs. This message read and judge if we 
Have cause to pet the vulgar multitude. 

Plwr. \haviiig read the paper] A fateful document it is. Thou 
art 
Accused and heavily. I read betwixt 
The lines that Cleopatra moves the wheel 
And he is earnest whom she holds in chains. — 
Thou wilt proceed to him? 

Her. I will ! — I must ! 

There is no jesting with that Roman's will! — 
And thou art sovereign while I am away. 
Hold tight the reins of state, but curb, till I 
Return, the zeal of over-hasty friends. 
With moderation use, should force be found 
Imperative, ttiy telling might. Pardon 
The weak and cringing populace, but on 
The leaders heavy punishment inflict. — 

Enter Diophantus; cries of a crowd are heard. 
The crowd is wild; ditl not Phabatus speak? 

Dio. My lord, they listen not and cry "The king! 
Let Herod speak! " And every second swells 
The furious mob. — There is no time to lose. 

Her. We are not humored to apply the steel, 
Instead of which this time we use the word. [Exeunt all. 

SCENE IV. 

Before the gate of the court. 
A crowd besieging it. Phabatus upon the wall. 

Phab. I can no explanation give until 
You give attention to the tacts I state. 
I speak' the truth; or doubt you what I say? 

A at. Believe him not, be'lieve him not, he speaks 
Not what he thinks; he speaks not what is true, 

Another Cit- The king, the king! We want no courtling's oath; 
We want to hear the king himself explain. 
Why was Hyrcanus killed, a high priest slain? 

Many Voices. Why was Hyrcanus killed? The king shall say! 

A Voice. Break "through the gates, down with the guard! 
Break in! [Herod and, train appear on the wall. 

A Cit. Now there is Herod; silence, hear him! He looks 
On us and smiles. He waves his hand; be still! 

Her. My fellow-countrymen and loyal friends. — 

A at. He says we are his fellow-countrymen 
And loyal friends. 

A Voice. Keep still, thou babbling jack! 

Her. My fellow-countrymen and loyal friends, 
To show the rate at which I set your love 
I stand here ready to defend myself 
Against the fools who say that Herod did 
Hyrcanus slay. I slew liim not, he slew 



54 H E K O D . 

Himself by forcing me to strive in self- 

Defease, which is, according to our Law, 

No crime, but sacred duty on oar part. 

Where is a man vyho loving wife and child 

And being threatened by a treacherous foe 

Would unconcerned thus his life expose 

And not retort the meditated stroke ? 

Is there one here who would his foe not wreck ? 

I hear no voice, that is I hear no lie. 

No man would lose his life without defense. 

And now decide, suppose you had a friend 

Possessing all the love jour hearts can give. 

Dividing all your wealth and plans with you, 

And you discovered him in league with one 

Who is the deadliest of your bitter foes, 

Would you not reckon him a traitorous heart ? 

Who says he would not, says a shameful lie. — 

Such is the nature of my case. You think 

Hyrcanus was an old, good man; I thought 

Like you until this fatal paper — which 

You all may read — convinced me he was not; 

For Malchus of Arabia is my foe 

With whom this paper proves him leagued agamst 

Myself and land hear you — against your land! 

Against this country did Hyrcanus plot. 

His hand outlined the scheme here black on white. 

If to destroy a traitor be a crime 

Then prove it to a court I shall appoint. 

[E.reuut Herod and train, 

A at. Who would believe it of the holy man, 
And yet the king doth say he can it prove. [Enter Sabion. 

Another Cit. He says he had it written black on white. — 
Thou, Sabion, tell us whether all be true. 

Sab. I knew beforehand you would ask me this, 
But spare the answer me which is too sad. 
A friend of mine he was — Heaven pardon him ! 

A Voice. Then go we hence, the king has told the truth! 

A Cit. [.'shaking his head] I have my thoughts and othefs have 
them too. 
To say and unsay, he said, I said, we 
Said, well, Hyrcanus something had to say 
As well, but he is mute and slain untried, 
This pinches me. — To slay a man untried! 
Why, blockheads are they who believe his guilt. 

[He leaves muttering some words; the otJiers follow him. 

SCENE v. 

Herod's bedchamber. 

Mariamne on a divan, he kneeling before her. 

Herod. No, waste these pearls not, goddess, rolling from 
Thy star-outsparkling eyes! This precious Hood 
The gods make jealous of Hyrcanus' death 
Who lives in thee a thousand thousand lives! 
He is not dead for whom a seraph weeps. 



HEROD. 55 

2Iari. He is, alas! and sees the sun no more! 
The dear benignant, hoary, sacred head 
To whom the savage Parthian bowed in awe 
Thus fallen is forever, buried, dead; 
By thee, whom he did raise, did love, did back 
In what thy interest required, slain, 
Beheaded like a culprit guilty of 
Unheard-of crimes! — Hyrcanus, no! there is 
No spot on thy illustrious honored name! 
He traitor! — King, thou couldst as well the sun 
Of giving birth to night accuse because 
Of shades through his departure dominant. 
He called thee tyrant, murderer, which to 
Disprove thou both these qualities on him 
Didst grossly test ! — Who would a court not fly 
Where all the vices find a genial home? 
Treason to save one's life! No, treason in 
Thy judgment, is to be an Asmonean! 

Her. [rising] Celestial shrew, yea, right in one respect 
Is thy unfounded, strange accuse. In thee, 
Proud Asmonean, it looks like treason thus 
To hold my angled heart and spurn my love.— 
Aye, torture, sting degenerate manhood in 
Tlay too devoted, too uxorious fool! 
Mariamue not but Herod of us two 
The woman's garb shoukl wear, and thou, untamed, 
Inexorable as thou art, unmoved, 
A coat of mail shouldst thy habiliment make. 
Till now, sweet madam, what of Herod thou 
Hast seen was not that Herod dreaded by 
The desert's warlike hordes. I can a shape, 
A face, a frown, an eye so horrible 
Assume that Satan in his fiendish ire 
Less dreadful is to mortal gaze than I ! — 
But Heaven, this fairy makes a fawn of me, 
And every effort to regain my self 
Proves jnore and more I am a fettered slave ! 
Did Lilith not to thee her chnrm impart 
That chains the youth and wringing rives his heart? 
That makes him sigh and l)urn with loving rage 
Who vainly seeks nepenthe his wounds to assuage! 

Mari. I used no potions to unman thy nerves 
Nor any charm to capture thus thy heart. 

Her. No magic draughts, the witchcraft lies in thee. 
Enchantress, whose resistless eye a fire 
Drives through the veins so violent and hot 
That Lethe's wave, adjoining it, would boil. — 
Mariamne, by all those powers who the skies 
Control, by the eradiations of 
The lucent orbs, I swear I am unmanned, 
Undone, if I to Antony proceed 
With doubt oppressing me about thy love ! 
Say frankly, woman, if I ought to strive 
For love's delights I yet may taste alive; 
If not, my queen, I will resign my breath 
And seek my peace in rayless, hopeless death! 



56 HEROD. 

3Iar. [r-isi)ig] Our infants wear thy image, king; I see 
They love their father whom I should not hate; 
Till I am down with whelming misery 
I am resolved to face my cruel fate! 
The dear are gone who made my life so sweet, 
My last of sires with Hyrcanus died; 
They are in Heaveu where the pious meet 
Who vile temptation here beneath defied. 
Oh, could I hope the high priests to embrace 
In yonder heights where youth doth never fade, 
To see my brother with his beaming face 
In garb angelic with the saints ]jarade, 
I should be tempted tliis my heart now broke 
With overpowering woes, soul-wringing sighs 
To open by a steel's well-pointed stroke 
And with my angels weep in blissful skies. — 
But I am bound my earthly course to run, 
The mortal's sorrows feel until my end; 
For He who kindled tlie enkindling sun 
Forbids frail man to fall by his own hand. 
I live and bear resigned my heavy lot, — 
Go, king, depart, Mariamne hates thee not. 

Her. [embracing her] So much is little yet it bids me live! 

[The curtain decends, lohile he holds her euihraced. 



ACT IV. 

SCENE I. 

^4 room at Salome's 
Enter Eurycles. 



Eurycles. A jest is worth a jest and for the sport 
I in Salome's bed enjoy I can 
Afford to draw in her behalf on my 
Unquestioned honesty, and, having made 
Of Herod's sister a debauching drab 
Indeed, I should, this drab to please, by some 
Contrivance blast the reputation of 
His virtuous queen. Why Joseph loathe and me 
Adore here Satyr had his fun, if fun 
In woman's inconsistency there be. 
I am as sure of Joseph's iunocence. 
As sure that fair Mariamne has no thought 
Of guilt, as I of my adultry have 
No doubt. But then the king commanded her 
To serve, and she hath taught me how, and I 
Have told her, ay, and cuckolded her fop 
Who dreams not that he gets his portion from 
My saintship second-hand. — Till miduight I 
Till morn the dupe; such is our program since 
The king is off.— Lo! there the horned sage. [Enter Joseph. 

My best, sincere good morrow, honored sir. 



HEROD. 57 

Jos. Gooil nioriow, wakefTil friend. Please tell my wife, 
Whom I have left asleep, that I must on 
The queen wait ere the king arrives. She knows 
Not yet that Herod comes to-day against 
The rumor whispered of his fall. He comes 
Sustained in all his dealings here, and my 
Surprise I with the queen divide. 

I'^iiry. She will 

Delighted be such tidings to receive. 
She is mock-widow now two months or so. 

Jo!^. She will, she will, I have no doubt she will! 
Six weeks are past since he hath left the queen 
And this is long for hearts to be apart. 

Eiiry. My wife and self could stand it thrice that time. 
But we are Greeks, the Hebrews being strict 
And thinking guilt what Spartans deem biit sport. 
No Moses could for Hellenes legislate. 
Lycurgus' code permits no property 
To be the one's and not the other's* good. 
And woman's beauty he did part make of 
The common wealth. My ^vife is thine and thine 
Is mine, such is the Spartan's liberal view. 

Jos. In vast Judea none the Grecian ways 
Admires more than Herod, but in this, 
I know too well he is not half a Greek. 

The king is jealous of his eunuchs' eyes • 

That they, like his, Mariamne's graces view, 
And woe to him on whom sTispicion fell 
Of being favored by the beauteous queen! 
This to no angel Herod would forgive. 

Eury. I rather, then, with Cerberus the gate 
Of hell would guard than watch this monarch's wife. 
The envious gods, when Love forsook the skies 
To sweeten here the mortal's ruthful lot, 
To turn her bliss into a plague to man. 
Of all tbe fevers made a phantom black 
Which haunts and maddens him who loves too much : 
This fearful spectre Jealousy they called. 

Jos. He made me warden not with my consent, 
But he shall find her true and be content 
If what for him she feels he may call love. — 
I am a parrot, zounds. The queen might to 
The groves before I come. The sun is high. 
Farewell!— Forget not what I asked. — Adieu. \E.vit. 

Eiiry. I see not why I should this person wreck 
Who treats me hospitably in this house, 
Not like a servant which I feign to be, 
But like a man his equal every inch 
And what have I against the sweetest queen 
That hates the plotter who her kinsman slew. 
And shuns my harlot, whom I neither love ? 
But if I moralize why am I here 
Where honest men are out of vision puffed ? — 
I see her near, and must prepare for love. [Enter Salome. 

I should be gallant till I see my way. — 
Good morrow, princess, — what, so early up? 



58 HEROD. 

Sal. Ah, false adorer! early thus for thee? 

Eur I/. Thou must not misconstrue mv anxious love; 
For hours I hang about that entrance there 
As erring pilgrim gazing at the East 
To see the sun illumine his dark path; 
Yet for thy dreamy slumber I my rest 
Would give; for, though I suffer, half the pain 
Is taken when I know thy dreams are sweet. 
Oh could but ever I repose with thee! 

S'll. Thou knowest well my soul's most ardent wish 
Is in thy arms to dream, but not until 
The ground is clear can we have rest. The hour 
Is pressing and our future on thy nerve 
Depends. My Greek intrepidly must act, — 
Now hear the scheme I during night devised : 
My husband, whom I hate as thee I love, 
A secret order from the king received 
To slay the queen should he be slain abroad. • 

By fine suasion I did prompt him, ere 
The king returns, the order to divulge 
To her, whose fiery temper will revolt 
Against a love so cruel in its craze. 
Her prudence give to indignation way; 
And bitter hatred she will vent on him 
Whom new success will stimulate to pride, 
And disappointment drive to wild extremes. 
This moment seizing we must deal the blow. 
Affirming straight that criminal intercourse 
My cuckold and the queen together leagued, 
His gross betrayal backing our accuse. 
This daring measure will our foes remove. 

Eury. Will words suffice to test such heinous guilt? 

Sdl Ay. for the moment they will surely work. 
The king's decision will be quick and sharp, 
And what is done he never can undo 

Eury. Their death alone could make success secure. 

Sal Their death alone can calm my brother's wrath 
Who in his rage did never try to think. — 
I count upon the temper of a king. 

Eury, And I my life on thy experience set 
And tiiy directions shall my compass be. 
Command when it is time to act, I stand 
A slave to thy unhindered will, knowing 
Thou wilt for much not sacrifice my heart. 

Sdl. [fakes hin hand] One moment yet let us in soft delight 
In half-dusk taste the pleasures of sweet love. 
Come, dearest Greek, have thou my consort's right; 
That chamber be my nest and I thine dove. [Exeunt both. 



A room at the queen's. 
Enter AijExandra and Maeiamne. 
Alex. I say, the time is come for us to fly; 
Pheroras will the throne ascend, and he 
Will sweep us from this earthly round, The grave 
Or Egypt — chof)se the best of these. 



HEROD. 59" 

Mari. My babes, 

My pretty babes, what will become of them! 

Ale.v. iJecome of them! They will be men and may 
Be kings once distant from this land of woe. 
Had with my son I tied this cursed seat, 
I would not helpless thus and desolate 
My child bewail. But Heaven duU'd my sense 
That time; and now I pray thee let us tly! 

Man. We trust a rumor which our foes perchance 
Have spread to see how Herod's death would us 
Affect and thus our disaffection test. 
If Herod fall, Mariamne would not weep; 
I never loved the man whom now I loathe 
"With all the madness of a tortured heart. 
But he may live and frustrate our attempt. 
We should await what Joseph has to say. 

Alex. We should our lives not place in Joseph's hand 
Whose outward shows I would not much confide. 

Man'. He is a man in whom I faith repose. 
Although I hate the female he calls wife. [Enter Joseph. 

He comes! Why spoke we not of cheerful days?— 
Thou art our theme, good Joseph, and some news 
Of moment we expect to hear. What is 
The rumor Avorth about the king's return? 
Jos. Who told the queen that Herod is returning? 
Mari. Is he returning? And that whisper hath 
Nor hand nor foot? Speak, Joseph, and my doubts 
Dispel. 

Jos. I think that minixtes will thy doubts 
Disperse, for if the tidings be correct 
The king in minutes will the queen embrace. 

Mari. Then Herod lives and all are stories forged? 
Alex. And Antony confirmed him in rule? 
Jos. My knowledge goes not further than, he comes; 
The rest, "my queen and princess, he will tell. 

Alex. A great surprise, for sure, a great surprise. — 
Mari. The idle tongues should be cut off who thus 
Invent good people to confound. A change 
Like this not every mind can bear. I scarce 
Can realize that all was not a dream. 

Jos. Which shall make room for sweet reality. 
The loving consort dearer is to thee. 
Fair queen, than to the rest the glorious king, 
And so much greater thy rejoicing is 
Than ours, although I would the last not be 
Nor least to welcome such a gracious lord. 

Mari. If he the quality of consort would 
Bv royal deeds display as he the rate 
Of friendship doth by high rewards attest, 
I would be queen in "other sense than name. 

Jos. My most admired, worshipp'd, virtuous queen, 
I here in'preseoce of her princely grace, 
Thy fair and noble mother, must maintain — 
Thou dost the king, my lord's affection wrong. 
There lives no man beneath this country's sky. 
No man as far as Rome's vast empire doth 
Extend, who so adores and loves his wife 



60 HEROD. 

As Herod doth his beauteous queen. Ay, what! 
His quality of husband not display? 
He is a lover still, the husband s calm 
Being enkindled by the lovers rage. 
Tbere is a mania in our monarch's love 
Which is in tenser than his fear of death. 
None better knows it than myself. I have 
Such strong and irrefutable proofs that he 
The queen more than his life does love that I 
Must wonder at tny unaccountable doubts. 
I knew what love is when I Herod knew. 

Ale,v. Why not, good Joseph, undeceive the queen 
Who failed hitherto to sound his love 
Which, loud in words, was beggarly in deed? 

2Iari. Tlaou art my friend, my husband's confidant; 
If aught thou knowest would the difficulties 
Kemove betwixt the king and me, then speak, 
Since reticeace, though prudent otherwise, 
In such a case re.-embles much a wrong. 

Jos. A base Delilah did a Samson wreck, 
What weighs a Joseph in Mariamne's hand? 

Marl, [sniilingly] I hit it now! A secret is it not? 
A secret in thy breast should me convince. 
That I am terribly beloved, adored! 
Fy! Joseph, with tho>e second hand confessions! 
Man, mock a wretched woman not! To such 
A vulgar love I noble hate prefer. 

Jos. My queen! — 

Mart. Fy, fy! To whisper secrets on 

A wife, a queen, and keep her ignorant 
About herself— if that be love, Joseph, 
Then neither thou dost love know, friend, nor he. 

Jos No, madam, that is love, diviuest love 
Which Herod bears his queen; and here the proof. — 
Though this divulgement blast me I will speak 
To vindicate my lord the loving king! — 
Know tliat before the king took leave of you 
And Laodicea made his journey's goal. 
He did to me his inmost grief impart. 
In broken accents he did groaning speak, 
And, sighing, swore that, should misfortune him 
Betide, he scorned death, but would amid 
The saints of Paradise Mariamne miss ; 
I should him promise well, a whim, a freak — 
I should him promise not to let him wait 
In heavens long for thee, but 

Mai-i. [impatient] Fini.sh, man! 
But cut my throat or stab, no? 

Jos. Never spoke 

He such a phrase as this, and sure he meant 
It better than it sounds. — In Paradise 
Without thy company there was no bli^s, 
He thought. It is a whim, but still his love!— 

Mari. For monsters like that beast in human frame 
There is a pit in hell! Sweet Eden would 
Turn black at his abominable sight! 
Oh Joseph, silence! speak not of the fiend 



HEROD. 61 

Whose love I dread! Oh filthy soul, oh snake 
In manly shape!— I thank thee for this love 
On which my bitter hatred feeds. 

Jos. If thon 

The use of strong reproach wilt not forbear 
And base it on my frank discourse I have 
My ruin conjured'; for treason would to him 
Appear what I well-meaning to defend 
Him have «xposed. [ Ti umjiets are heard without. 

Alex. They sound the kin<r's approach 

And I no mission have him to receive. [hxit AJe.randra. 

Mart. Nor I, distempered as I am and wroth.— 
Excuse me, Joseph, 1 am sick at heart - 
I cannot bmile now that my sense is galled, 
And in my heart the blood fermenting boils. 
Be not dejected, friend, Mariamne knows 

The goblin who that fien ish order gave. [Triniip(ts are hrirrd. 
'Tis he saluted by the guards. Oh God, 
Now fortify my soul to front the beast 
"When he arrives at his accursed lair 
To glut his bestial lust on me ! Ah, sirt- s. 
Immortal figures, who with Israel's staff 
The dear inalienable sacred rights of man 
Imprinted on the brow of time, from your 
Supernal seat of bli.ss the Power benign 
Invoke to teach me how to end my state 
Of u utold wretchedness ! I Exi t Ma rta mn e. 

Jos. Fool, fool, fool! Would 

I had a score of cries to proclaim 
I am a long-eared, braying, stupid ass! 
To sap thus studiously my own support 
In such a coxcomb wav and have a brain I 

My wife's suggestion following i fall. {Trum/>ets are heard. 

I could bite off" my tongue so do I hate 
The looseness of that boneless, babbling piece! 

Enter Herod, Pherok.vs, PHABiVTas, Diophantus, Sabion, Cor- 
INTHUS, Saramellas, and a train of armed guards. 
Her. Isurrounded by his court.] My prince, grandees, my lord^ 
and loyal friends. 
Returning with due honors from the man 
Whom continents obey, and having all 
Our foes by friendliness or force subdued. 
We now may turn an eye to peaceful arts. 
To works of beauty and of noble taste. 
In fair proportion.s with embellishments 
Of rarest kind our Sanctuary nears 
The crowning touch, and round it soon a vast. 
Impregnable citadel encompassing 
Shall rise, enclosing habitations large 
And solid, wearing Fioman ensigns on 
The front and Antony's immortal name. 
To whom we purpose other monuments 
To set in token of onr love to him. 
To honor Caesar we Olympian games 
From Grecian soil import, and for this end 
Erect a vast, commodious edifice 



•62 HEROD. 

With all belongings of a racing space. 

Our plan is made to see new cities rise, 

And various structures shall this land adorn 

In memory of those to us endeared. 

All this will stimulate our people's mind, 

And those in league with us may see how we 

Fidelity and friendship ou the brow 

Of rocks engrave. My land I find in peace, 

For which I thank you, prince, grandees, my lords. 

[Exeunt all save Jlenxl (incl Joseph. 
I miss Mariamne's welcome, Joseph. — How 
Conceive the absence of the queen? She was 
In time of my return apprised? 

Jos. She was 

My lord, and waited in this hall until 
A while before thy coming was a third 
Time by the trumpet signaled, when of some 
Unpleasant feeling overcome, she left. 
Assuring me she ought to be excused; 
She was not well, not in the frame of mind 
To cheerfully receive my lord, the king. 

Her. What may account for such a sudden change? 

Jos. The queen was in her humor rufUed when 
This morn I came with news of thy return. 
The princess, Alexandra, was with her 
And went the moment I the news conveyed. 

Her. They were consulting and by thee disturbed? 

Jos. Methought they were, my lord, but what, my skill 
Could draw no inference. 1 caught no word. 
No syllable to serve me as a key 
To what their consultation might have been. 

Her. There is a knot which I shall cut at once! [Exit Herod. 

Jos. The cut may reach my throat. I am undone ! 
I dug my grave encouraged by mine wife; 
I must to her; although the gates of hope 
Are closing over me, she may yet see 
A way. — The tongue, the tongue! oh snaky thing! [Exit. 

SCENE III. 

The Queen's beclchcDiiber. 

Mari. [Iter hands folded] Ye sacred ministers of love and grace 
"Who from Sheol's profoundest deep the ghosts 
Of purged sinners to immortal heights 
Uplift, show me the path to hope from this 
Unblessed, fearful, bloody labyrinth 
Wherein my bleeding soul entangled strives! 
That hellish agent who my dearest slew 
And me delivered to a courtier's knife, 
That murderous fiend my husband call and lord, 
Receive him in the arms of love, my bed. 
Myself divide with him and smile — and smile! 
Ha, basilisk, how do thy likeness in 
My innocents' complexion I abhor! 
Oh patience, softness feminine, the tongue, 
The tear, the tear, the tongue is all we have 
Our blackest outrages on demons to 



HERO I). 63 

Avenge! My grandsire slain, my brother slain, 

Myself for slaughter marked, abused, and I 

That hell-hound's grisly volume on my hips 

Support! No, sacred ancestry, I feel 

Your unpolluted, martial blood in me 

Revolt against submission to a fate 

So dire! — Herod, I am prepared to meet 

Thee now; walk in, I am not what I was!— \E liter Herod. 

Iter. I hear my name, but not a lovinir sound. 
Thy wild excitement, queen, betokens evil. 
My heart is still the same, but thine is not. 
And thy reception tells me love is past. — 

Mari. And all the blessings of thy house are past; 
Nay, never blessings did on it alight, 
For curse and blessing never did unite. 

Her. \tryiny to siijjpress his rage\ Imperious, proud, imcon- 
querable queen. 
How long shall I a beggar worship thee 
Who thus repels me like the vilest slave ? 
In awe before me twenty millions bow, 
Great Antony embraces me as friend, 
At my command the desert turns a town. 
And with my warlike arm I won a state — 
Shall I forever live in fear of such 
A peevish, uninstructed scold?— Woman, 
If I guess right, the message of my death 
Would be more welcome than my presence here. 
Deny it woman, or believe I shall 
Ungently touch thy haughty, huge conceit! 
Deny it, or by this my sword which, from 
The clutches of thy kindred wrung this throne, 
I shall a dreadful vengeance take on thee ! 
For if I were one-eyed and thou the eye, 
I, to allay my all-devouring rage. 
Would pluck thee from my socket's cave and cast 
Thee to the dogs ! 

Marl, \pale with wrat]t\ Now listen, I will speak 
And mirror in my speech thy horrid self ! 
Thou mayst the rabble with thy threats appall, 
Or frighten Bedouins with thy gory faine. 
But I am callous to thy savage frowns: 
Can well resist thy foul, unbridled tongue, 
And bare my breast before thy dagger's point! 
Aye, speak to all the world, inhuman king. 
But not to me of thy heroic feats. 
I know thy story written with the blood 
Of noblest hearts thy greed untimely pierced! 
Thou owest Rome, but not thy sword, this crown 
And hast no friend beyond thy sordid stock! 
Uncounted widows, when their orphans weep, 
Ory Herod! Herod! in their infants' ear. 
And curse the hour of thy unholy birth ! 
Thy menial slaves my princely brother drowned; 
By thine behest they carried out the crime; 
My grandsire raised thee with a parent's love; 
By him persuaded I became thy bride; 
By him prepared thou art Judea's king, 



64 HEROD. 

And yet, thy craven fears to calm, liis blood, 
A high priest's sacred blood did flow! -But as 
If tortured with a blood-hound's thirst for gore. 
Or with that monster's unconceivable greed 
Who on his young his beastly hunger gluts, 
Thy wolfish instinct on destruction bent 
Now eyes in me an undefended prey! — 
I should not thee survive, unspeakable fiend; 
Deny it, monster, or my loathing bear! 

Her. \^i)i a jjaroxijsin of rage] Ha, traitor, traitress ! — Night and 
blackness, lui! 
The hell is yawning! — Go, thou art a whore. \ Strikes her. 

With Joseph, yea with Joseph! — Vengeance, death! [Exit. 

Mari. Now he the poison bears. — He stnack me, well, 
That hand will rot, while he is yet alive. — 
He can my bosom pierce, but not my name 
Befoul.— With Joseph! — Fiend, thy thoughts aie like 
Thyself, demoniac, foul and black. — A stone 
Is oft' my breast; I told him all, he foams 
Like raging tiger with the deathful shaft 
In him. — Vengeance, death. — I mock them all; 
I with my babies pray, and praying fall. [E.n't MaricDiine. 

SCENE IV. 

A room at Joseph's. 
Enter Joseph and Salome. 

Hal. My fault it is that thou hast little sense 
And the last second didst select to say 
What weeks ago thou prudently couldst do 
And give her time to ruminate the triith. 
Of course, I should as well be mad to learn 
The measure, knowing not the gentler cause. 

Jos I found no means to pacify her mind 
Imbued with deep distrust against the king. 
She never ought to learn the purposed act 
Which any woman's gentlenesb would ruffle; 
For who can justly say that he was right? 

Sal Ah, Joseph sides with her, it is too clear; 

Jos. I side with her and any one in right. 
Thou art her enemy, she taunting oft 
Thy lowly birth, and shunning intercourse 
With thee on ejual terms. — That is not right. 
But justifies not wrong by her endured. 

Sal. Slie is my bitter foe and tliou art sure 
Her friend, that is thou art my bitter foe. 
She hates tliy wife and thou dost take her part 
Who will, should her conteiitiou-s haughtiness 
A (piarrel seek, not spare thy name nor life. — 
What is it driving thee in such a haste ? ['L\> Eiiri/clcs irho enters. 

Eii.rtj. iMadam, dear sir, the king is raging, troth 
Upon his lips. He runs from room to rooiA, 
Swears, cries: " Coriutlm-!!— The guard — traitor— death — 
Vengeance — with Joseph -traitress,"- and so forth. — 
His mood affrights me, madam; madness stares 
In his revengeful eye. — I dread his rage. 



HEKOD. 65 

* Jos. I must be gone ; the lightning darts on me. — 
He said, "With Joseph?" was it so? 

Eury. Quite so. 

" With Joseph — traitress," I distinctly heard. 

Jos. I dare, in his delirium, not confront 
The king. — I apprehend he knows it all. — 
I must withdraw until his wrath subsides. [Exit. 

Sal. Unmanly coward, thus to run away! — 
Our fortune smiles; now be a man. — She is 

Adultress, hearest thou? — This will seal their fate. [Enter Herod. 
There is the king. Medusa in his look. — 

Her. Ha, monkey, vile baboon, licentious ape! 
To hell Avith him ! — Where is thy bed's companion. 
Thy Joseph, wench, where is thy man? — 

Sal. Protect 

Me Heaven ! — Thou art as white as death ! — He is 
Away. — 

Her. Away ! 

Sal He ran away. — 

Her. He ran 

Away ! This earth no cavern hath to hide 
The lecherous ape I hunt. — Salome, ha ! 
Thy husband — treason — with my wife, the queen; 
His fear to face me doth confirm his guilt ! 

Sal. I warned thee in time; — no news for me. 

Her. Eternal agony! — No news for theeV 

Sal. Aj, brother, let that man there speak. — 

Her. That man ! 

Sal. That man, thy faithful servant, Eurycles, 
Hath brought to light what my suspicion wove. 

Her. Hath brought to light! All doubt is gone! — To light! — 
Speak fellow! — Ah, it is the Greek I gave 
Thee. — Speak, my dreadful witness! — No, speak not! — 
The guard, Corinthus! — Bring the traitor here! — 
They do not come! — 

Sal. They hear thee not. — Oh dear, 

Support it like a man and cast that wife 
Away! 

Her. And cjast that wife away ! Am I 
Awake, asleep ? Is this a vision I 
Am passing through? — This is myself, and this 
Salome, and there the Greek, the witness. — Ha! 
Speak witness, give me certainty I hear ! — 
If I am dreaming, then I dream in hell ! 

Eury. My dreadful lord, would Oheop's pyramid 
Had been on me before I witnessed what 
I now must test. — I think it was not all 
His crime; the guilty intimacy was 
By tempting hints and demonstrations on 
The queen's part brought about. 

Her. Keep cool, keep cool. 

Poor Herod, cool. — Thou sayst the queen has done 
The whole by hints and demonstrations, what 
Of her advances didst thoii note of late ? 
If more be known to thee let all me know. 

Eury. Some time ago the princess with a charge, 
A private errand, sent me to her lord 



66 HERO I). 

Attending on the queen. As I on toes 

The known apartments did approach, my ears 

Absorbed the sound of kissing lips and speech 

So soft and amorous that envy struck 

My heart, and I was tempted to surprise 

The happy turtle sport, myself unseen. 

Amazement seized me wheo, on drawing nigh, 

I through a half-shut door beheld the queen 

And treasurer in sweet delight embraced, 

Against a divan leaning, she burying 

Her head beneath his beard. " And is it true," 

She said uprearing gracefully her head, 

" That he consigned me to a murderous death?" 

Whereto the lover did affirming nod. 

I then the queen heard clearly say : " He must 

Not live, the vile plebeian whom my soul 

Abhors ! " — 

Her. Enough, these are her words; enough, 

I have no wife, had never one! — Oorinthus! 
Phabatus! — Why, are they asleep? — Oh, they all 
Have wives and friends, I am the only wretch, 
A solitary wretch enthroned and crowned. — 

Go, summon the unsympathetic slaves! [To Eurycles who goes. 
I'll have thy traitor piecemealed inch by inch. 
First he, my harlot after him.— She falls, 
Though with her sink the skies. — I must see blood! [Exit Herod. 

Sal. The loosened rock doth from the cliff descend 
With unresisting, all-uprooting force, 
I see my foes beneath its fragments bend 
And buried in the wreckage of its course ! [Exit Salome. 



School-room in the Temple. A crowd of scholars lowly seated 
around Matthias. 

1st Scholar. I pondered long on what the Scriptures say: 
" And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all 
Thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy might." 
Biit know not, master, to define the verse. 
Are these three faculties not one in three? 

Matt. Not quite, my son. — They all are Heaven's gifts 
On man bestowed; though intarwoven they 
Are three in function and in end diverse 
In one the feeling's heavenly germ is laid; 
The other is the throne of reason's rule; 
The tbird in action shows sujjrerae command. 
Thv heart's suggestions follow when on mild 
And charitable deeds it bends thy sense, 
But leave no room within for instincts low 
Which desecrate that holiest of seats. 
As to thy soul, it heavenward aspires. 
The star-paved quarry whence that gem is cut; 
Unless encumbered with the lead of sin 
She will, like tire, seek ethereal space 
And never feel the thirst for wisdom quench'd 
Until invested with immortal sight 
To view all wonders, freed of earthly clay. 



HEROD. 67 

In miglit man's greatness and his danger lies. 
By it he holds dominion o'er this world, 
A sceptred monarch of all nature's realm; 
By it abnsed he is this nature's curse. 
And woe to man when might is centred in 
A tyrant's unrestricted hand i for naught 
Is holy to a power founded on 
The wrecks of human liberty divine! 
2d Schol Allows the Law no vengeance on such foes? 
Matt. With all thy might is written in the Law, 
Which signifies, defend thy Sanctuary 
At cost of life. These restless, fleeting days. 
When sacrificed in struggling for our God, 
Procures a sweet eternity of bliss. 

3d Schol. Why fight we not against tyrannic rule ? 
Why purge we not this place of heathen games ? 

4th Schol. The Eoman eagle on the Temple's door 
By Herod planted, is it not a shape, 
An image branded in the Decalogue? 

5th Schol. The giant statues reared to pagan chiefs 
Within the precincts of Jerusalem, 
From Dan to far Beer-Sheba, heat the blood 
Of myriads ready to wipe out the fell 
Abomination from our sacred midst ! [Enter Judas Saripheus. 

Matt. The hour is not auspicious now, methinks, 
To rouse rebellion in this chastised land; 
But when it comes I shall my papils lead 
To martyr death or brilliant victory. 

Judas Saripheus. I find commotion even in these rooms, 
Sequestered though they are from public stir. 
But all creation should "with uproar skake, 
And cleanse of prodigies her sacred face ! 
Matt, [while the scholars rise] What is the latest of untoward 

events ? 
J. Sari. The most preposterous of all yet known. — 
The queen is prisoner by the king's command. — 
Matt. The queen, Mariamne ? — 

J. Sari}). Mariamne is condemned 

To die the death of infamy and shame ; 
And Joseph died a partner of her guilt. — 
Matt. Joseph, the king's most favorite confidant ? 
J. Sarip. Salome's lord and Herod's treasurer 
Beheaded fell accused of criminal lust. 
Matt. By whom accused, and testified by whom ? 
J. Sarip. By Herod, Herod, Herod; these are three 
Who in their methods never disagree. 
3Iatt. Would God divested him of rule and sense ! 
J. Sarip. The half of thy petition granted is 
Already; for gossip says his wits are gone. 

Matt. \to his scholars] Good boys, it might be time for us to act, 
But move no finger till we meet again. 
We shall meantime our thoughts mature, our means 
Employ, and, shunning rashness, carry out 
Our plan Of Judas Maccabseus read; 
His life will ripen you for glorious deed! , 

[The scholars disperse all excited. 



68 HEROD. 

J, Sari}^. Why should we wait when urgency invites? 
Impatient for a leader call the tribes 
And every eye is turned on thyself. 
Thou art the high priest whose appeal will fire 
The masses to determined dauntlessness. 
Let us resist the monstrous tyranny 
Which strives to paganize our holy land! 

Matt. I feel not warlike, brother, at this hour, 
A softer sentiment possessing now 
My tender properties. — The queen, I fear, 
Dies innocent, a guiltless victim of 
An infamous scheme. While as a minister 
Of the Most High for sacred freedom I 
Am bound to war, the gentler duty of 
Consoling innocence in dark distress 
Due preference claims, and I must see the queen. 

J. Sarip Well thought; compassion first and then revenge. 

Matt. Yea, 1 must see her, must console her; come, 
Her dreadful husband Avill this boon her grant. 

J. Sarin. And I will to her mother go not less 
Deserving of compassion's soothing speech, 
She, though not stainless in her dealings here, 
Hath borne a life's long sorrowful career. [Exeunt both^ 



Alexandra and Msof in one of her rooms . 

Alex. My daughter, too, and I must childless sink 
With unextinguish'd vengeance in my blood ! 
My daughter, too, thus shame-polluted falls. 
And Joseph slain, who cannot clear her name! 
Still this despair and now the worst I stood ; 
The skies are cruel, ^sop, yea they are ! 

JEsop. The times are rotten but the skies are just, 
And I am wicked or I would not breathe 
To such a crumbling age to see my hopes ' 
All buried, ere I broken die ! I bore 
Them in these arms, the drowned high priest and 
The gracious queen. Untamed, ferocious beast 
Would cringe in playful mood around the babes, 
And savage Parthians melted at their sight. 
So sweet bloom'd gentle infancy in them. 
But envious fortune is a jealous slut 
Who gives us most that we may lose the most! 
Now all my prayers centre but in one — 
I wish to go now that my joys are gone. 

Alex. I hate this life and" love this earth no more, 
Yet would I live to see that tyrant's gore 
Who will my daughter slay, who slew my heir, 
Who slew my father, driving to despair 
A gnashing woman who finds not a tear 
To weep her woes upon this doleful sphere. 

[Enter Judas Saripheus, 
Come, holy man, and let a mourner see 
What faitii can do against calamity. I Exit ^sop. 

J. Sarip. Madam, If Job's afflictions would thy self 
Betide, redoubled joys the Lord of Hosts 



H E K D . 69 

Bestows on such as question not his ways 
And in the mortal's weak discernment doubt. 

Alex. My source of joy is drying in the ground 
And shame is added to my boundless woes. 
The cursed hand that holds Judea chained 
And Zion makes the seat of heathen gods, 
It struck my son in prime of budding youth, 
Polluting now my daughter's virtuous name 
Without a knight her innocence to plead! 
What owe these tribes not to my ancestors 
Whose guiltless progeny defenseless falls 
Exterminated by a tyrant's hand; 
Alas, no steel, no voice resounding in 
Their dear defense! When was a being slain 
Without protest ! 

J. Sarip. Protest! dear princess, all 

Our tribes prote&t against the yoke they bear 
Which naught but action can revolting break. 

Alex. The actors tarry and the yoke is hard. 
No, no! The heroes of Judea lived; 
This craven age will vegetating sink 
Who have the tongue but not the nerve to deal 
With manly courage, death-provoking front. 
Hath Herod hosts Antiochus had not, 
Whose armed legions not their manhood chilled 
"Who strove resolved for sacred rights to bleed ? 

J. S'irw. We are not mettled like those matchless men 
Whose glorious feats our people's story grace, 
Yet do we know what can be done or not. — 
It is not Herod, princess, whom we fear. 
But him to combat means to combat Rome 
And those dread armies of resistless dash 
To whom the world reluctantly submits. 
What wouldst thou have, suppose we followed thee ? 

Alex. I would the tyrant's power overthrow. 
By stabbing him who' broke so many hearts. 

J. Sari. And let Pheroras or a heathen rule? 

Alex. A heathen rather than a half-breed Jew 
"Who is no heathen, but a heathen's slave! 
What could be worse than Herod wielding power! 
Nay, anv change would for the better tend, 
Since none so low but would some feeling have. 
Some awe for age. some reverence for the wise. 
Some love for truth, regard for royal blood. 
For guiltless life so monstrously destroyed. 

J. SarijJ. A change is nigh if Heaven speeds our work. 
We are not idle in our holy cause, 
But would not rashly act without design. 
Without a prospect of a fair success. 
A valiant band in readiness awaits 
The signal of the leaders they revere 
To strike the blow with overwhelming force. 
And spread revolt throughout this scourged land. 
The queen's arrest iinsettled our resolve. 
For in our sadness drowned is all revenge. 

Alex. Vain is your sympathy, my daughter falls, 
TJnless her rescue you in time effect 



70 ■ HEROD. 

Before that orb athwart the azure rolls, 
Or she will rise to the divine Elect. 
I have no hope, my heart tells me she dies, 
But meet we will and weep in yonder skies. 

[She leaves folhnced by Jiidan Saripheus^ 



ACT V. 



A room in the palace. 
Enter Hekod and Pherokas 

Herod. "What said the traitor? He denied his lust? 
Oh, had the demon but a score of necks 
I should at leisure crack them one by one ! 

Piter. He said he died unguilty of the crime. 
His wife did. lie; the queen was innocent 
And thou was maddened by mean jealousy. 
Thou wouldst thy madness rue, but rue too late. 

Her. A traitor and a liar was the fiend! 
His lechery is proved beyond dispute. 
Two witnesses have testified his guilt, 
The Greek of Sparta being one of them. 
This man no grudge against the queen can have. 
Supposing that our sister liked her not. 
Oh, dear Pheroras. why desert me thus. 
And love a man who was a slave to me ! 

Plier. His blood is on his head ; thy hands are pure. 

Her. And she shall follow him who shared her bed ; 
No pity shall unfix my vengeful mind! [Evter Phabatus. 

Who would see me ? Who wishes to be seen ? 
Admit no man; I rather met an ape. 

Phab. My lord, the High Priest, Matthias, praying waits 
That he with thy consent may see the queen. — 

Her. The strumpet — what with her? Still sympathy 
With her, though outcast, not with me, the king! 
The herb that makes beloved where is it found? 
Like Hermon's dew man's love is Heaven's gift, 
For crowns and sceptres can the heart not force. — 
Mariamne, oh Mariamne, fallen, fallen. 
An angel fallen from a glorious height; 
If there be seraphim they weep thy fall. — 
My queen ! — A harlot she — my wife a wretch. 
Condemned, imprisoned — perdition on 
My head if I forgive her crime !— Go tell 
The priest that mercy's gates are closed, and hell 
Is yearning to devour the lusty drab! \E.rit PJiabatusi 

Pher. Oh brother, king, thy health, thy rest, thy peace 
Are gone; thou art not more the same, the man 
Of stern resolves, indomitable will 
Can such a woman such a hero break ! 
She has no love for thee nor feeling for 
Thy dearest friends. This land is rich in maids 



HEROD. 71 

Of rarest qualities and grace. Nor lives 

A sovereign on this planet's round avIio would 

Not willingly his daughter make thy wife. 

Her. Ah, lad! thy maids! — Speak not of maids ; the sun's 
Eternal radiance beams not on a face, 
A figure and an eye like hers Leave me, 
Pheroras, I must be alone — in gloom, 
In darkness, drear, despondency alone. 
Mariamne's doom no power can revoke. 

She dies— leave me alone. — Mariamne dies. [Exit PJieroras. 

Send Diophantus here — Mariamne dies. — 
She falls, though with her Herod's fortune sinks ! — 
Last night I had a dream in which I saw 
Her in supernal glory wrapt, the priests, 
Her brother and Hyrcauus, by her side. 
All radiating with effulgence pure. 
I from a distance deep and drear did eye 
Their lofty flight athwart the empyrean 
Ablaze with glowing stars. Discerning me 
Afar, methought, they frowned, when under me 
The ground did open vast and horrid, and. 
Amid demoniac yells and grisly shapes, 
Who struck their talons in my writhing flesh, 
I sinking deep and deeper fell with sense 
Of guilt which agonized my thrilling soul. — 
It was a dreadful phantom fancy wove 
Out of the fever raging in my brains. — 
They say there is somewhere an Eden for 
The virtuous soul, and for the reprobates 
There is a judgment and a racking hell. 
If there be tortures in eternity 
They equal not the agonies I bear 
Alive!— Fools, dupes!— torture what is mud and wind! 
Of mire, wind and water made, we live 
On what they yield combined until the flesh 
Outworn dissolves, and here the story ends. — 
Her loathing lowered me in my esteem 
So that, while she degraded in the jail 
Is locked, I in my visions see her in 
The fields of bliss, so mighty dominates 
Her magic in my heated nerves. — '' Deny 
It, monster, or my loathing bear!" Ay, drab, 
Thy loathing's arrows Herod can sustain. 
But not a second time thou Herod ehalt disdain.— 
Thou, Diophantus, shalt my order bear; [Enter Diophantus. 

The captain of the jail will do the rest. 

Dio. I humbly serve thy pleasure, king; command. 

Her. See that before the sun completes his course 
The queen be headless and inhumed straightway. 

Dio My king 

Her. [sardonic] My king— my dog — compassion, what? 

Dio. 1 am thy slave, but this tremendous act! — 

Her. Tremendous fool ! I charge thee, if thy life 
Hath value — do what I command ! — Woe, woe 
Mariamne— night, abysm, horrid, O, O! \E.rit Herod. 

Dio. Deplorable king, he knows not what he doth. 
And reason's light appears in him eclipsed. 



72 HEROD. 

Yet disobey I dare uot his behest; 

Of all he slew the queen is sure the best. 

Unearthly venLjeance hovers over him; 

The skies revolt and Herod's end is dim! \Exit Diophautus, 



Makiamne and Matthias, in jail. 

Matt. So died he innocent of every guilt 
"With thee, my princess, who art thus accused? 

Mart. So may Almighty all my sins forgive 
As he was guiltless of the odious crime 
For which he bloody execution bore. 
His was a loyal and devoted soul, 
And I am grieved at his untimely death; 
And thou, dear sir, his memory wilt clear 
Of shameful imputations put on him. 

Matt. And thine illustrious self untainted stands 
By this assertion made before thy end. 

Mari. Before the threshold of eternity 
I stand prepared the verdict of that Judge 
To hear, who reads the naissant secrets of 
Man's inmost breast, and in this solemn hour 
I pledge my soul's eternal bliss that naught 
But truth I. told thee, sir, in all regards. 
Calumniated Joseph lost his life 
And spotless name, and I depart this world 
A victim of imbruted tyranny 

Matt. Among the martyrs of our sainted sires 
Thou wilt, dear daughter, ever live and shine. 
All-seeing Heaven will thy wrongs avenge. 
He, though long-suffering, the wicked smites 
With all the terrors of His burning wrath! 

Mari. May He the father's crime uot visit on 
My children, whose career opes darker than 
My end! My babes! auspicious Power guard 
My babes by cutting short their years, since naught 
Save gloom and woes the future breeds for them! 

Matt. Thy gloom expires and thy day begins, 
And they who live the Lord will not forsake. — 
Daughter, enlarge thy sentiments, thy mind's 
Celestial qualities distend, and part 
In peace with pardon for thy blinded foes; 
For such a triumph over passion won 
Endues the spirit with upsoaring speed 
When rid of clay it scales the azure's deep 
To join the Source of which it is a ray. 
How long soever man may here sojourn. 
He thither must return whence he does come, 
For here to stay not sent is the earth-born 
Who vainly seeks below a blissful home. 

[Captain and guards appear in the background.] 

Mart, [inspired] A high priest's daughter am I and, resigned, 
I banish wrath and vengeance from the mind. 
Forgiving all my foes I mil depart 
Propitiation mild within my heart. 
[Ecstatically] I see my sires in divine array 



HEROD. 73 

Amid the cliorists of the starlit heights, 
Their sacred radiance to my gaze display; 
Their eyes outsparkle the cerulean lights. 
They beckon me to leave the earth in haste, 
To wing with them through empyrean space; 
I come, I come to share your blissful race 
Ah, of your blessedness I long to taste. 
I hear the symphonies which move the skies 
So sweet and soft that cherubim do weep, 
The spheres resounding their dominion keep, 
The saintly hosts respond the melodies. 
Ah, let me flee this dark terrestial vale 
Where sorrows teem and joys are half and rare. 
Where budding blossoms rifling nips the gale. 
And sweetest hopes end in untold despair! — 

Enter Diophantus and maids who bring tiro babes. 
These are my babes, my earthly hopes were these, 
The Lord his blessings may on them bestow; 
With my departure may their sorrows cease, 
Adieu, my friends, my soul is freed from woe. 
Adieu, my babes, take this your mother's kiss; [Kissing them. 
We meet, my babes, and weep in realms of bliss. 
[She kisses the children again and again, then j^roceeds to the 

door ivhere the captain and guards are waiting all the time. 

She is accompanied by Matthias, Dioj)hantus, and the maids, 

two of whom take out the children through another door. 

The movements are solemn and moiirnful. A muffled drum 

is heard behind the scene.] 

SCENE III. 

The main portal of the Temple on which the Roman eagle is seen. 
A crowd of scholars ivith hatchets hidden under their cloaks. 

Enter Judas Sakipheus. Sabion appears watching at a distance. 

J. Sarip. Be patient, children, patient till he comes. 
He cannot longer tarry who should lead ; 
He is your master, act not rashly, boys. 

1st bchol. We wait resolved to shatter that fell bird 
Yon perched in defiance of our God. 
It is idoltary we foster in 
Our midst. — Perish Herod, death or victory! 

2d Schol. That is the Roman eagle he set up 
To pave the way for idols to come next. 
Antiochus he likens every way. 

3d Schol. Tush, lest the Temple's guard take note of us 
And in the germ suppress our brave resolve. 
A throng of worshippers the precincts crowd 
Who should the deed perceive when it is done 
Not premature betray us to the chief. 
Who" will come runnuig with his warlike pack. 

J. Sarip. The guards are doubled by the king's command, 
Who fears an uproar since the queen is locked. — 
Now there he nears and, somewhat hasty, too. [Enter Matthias. 
What are thy news? — How is the queen, alive? 

Matt. Mariamne fell, I saw her severed head. 
An angel fell, our manhood is disgraced. 



74 HEROD. 

Who for a slavish Ufe such shame endure. 
The tyrant slew the queen and we are mute, 
Obechent, cringing, weeping, craven, mean ! 
Such days I will not see a second time. 
My sorrow hath no bound. Oh, virtuous queen, 
Oh, worthy daughter of a glorious race 
How art thoii fallen noble, great, resigned 
To Heaven's decree, forgiving all, all, all ! 

J. Sarip. Not him, she coxild not, should not him forgive^ 

Matt. She could and should that murderer forgive, 
Who lost his senses, having lost his hopes. 

J. Sarip. We are not good enough to hear the best. — 

Matt. No, no ; the best would be his death — he lives 
And may yet all of us survive. — But you 
Are armed, children, and T waste your time. 

J. Sarip. They want that eagle down if thou sayst, yes. 

Matt- That eagle? — Boys are you prepared to die? 

Scholars. We are! 

Matt. The Holy One be blessed, — I die 

With you. — Bring down the image from the gate. [They pirej^are^ 
Wait, sons; some from the upper window must 
By ropes descend till they the idol reach — [3Iany rush in. 

Assist us. Heaven, in our pious work ! 
We bore it long, but now our patience ends. 
To fall for Thee is what Thy Law commands ! 
[Scholars descend by ropes from an upper icindoio, reach the eagle 
and strike it doum. A croicd rushes out of the Temple.] 

1st Schol. [smites the fragments] So evil thing, that perch is 
not for thee ! 
Ay, trample on it, let the tyrant burst 
With rage! — To atoms smash it, so, so, so! 

[The scholars S7)iash it with their hatchets, the crowd trample on 
the fractures ; noise and laughter.] 

A Voice. The guard, the guard ! Flee friends, flee ! 

[The croiod disperse. Judas, Matthias and scholars remain. 
Enter Captain and guard, Sahion dr axes nearer. 

Capt. Oh, sacrilege 

And treason! The ensign smashed, the instruments 
The High Priest's pupils hold with clinching grasp ! — 
My duty bids me to lay hand on you 
At once. You all must guarded be until 
The king has judged this foul revolt. Even 
The High Priest cannot be exempt. — Thou art 
Not of these rebels, for I saw thee come. 
While others took to flight ; who was the head 
Of this outrageous, daring act? [To Sab ion. 

Matt. By me 

Encouraged they this idol shattered, which 
The king, despite of Israel's sacred Law, 
To please the heathen robbers, there did plant. 
Lead on, I follow thee and shall this speech 
As plainly to the king repeat as I 
Did here, and let him judge me as he likes. 

Sab. It was a hasty deed I do regret. 
And may the king provoke to be severe. 

Matt.. Thy outward, Sabion, mirrors not thy mind; 
We know thee better than thou know'st thyself. 



HEROD. 75- 

J. Sarip. By thine devices old Hyrcanus died. 

Capt. Let Sabion go, but you must follow me. \Exit Sabion. 
My orders are not lenient in this case. — 
Convey these prisoners to the citadel 
The while I hasten to inform the king. 

[The Captain leaves, tvhile the guards surround the prisoners. 

SCENE IV. 

A room at Herod^s. 
Enter Herod. 
Herod. He died unguilty of the crime, he said.— 
His wife did he and I was maddened by 
Mean jealousy. — The queen was innocent — 
Mean jealousy!— Am I not mad!— Ah, if 
My queen unguilty die — unisriailty she 
And I her murderer!— Ye spinners of 
The mortal's earthly fate, ye powers black 
Or white, ye fearful Destinies— if she 
Be innocent— her blood, Mariamne's blood 
Flowing guiltless — beheaded my love! — No! 
She lives yet, sure she lives!— A messenger! 
My voice affrights me— slaves, a messenger!— 
Give me a messenger of lightning's speed! [Enter Sabion. 

The heavens are gracious — man, what leads thee here 
When crown and vingdom for thy like I gave? 

Sab. My lord, the High Priest and a crowd of scholars 

Her. Hold, life and death depend upon thy haste. 
Thy turn of tongue— run, she must not die! — 
Sab. My sovereign, who not die '? 
Her. Devil, the queen. 

My wife ! Dull-minded rogiie, my wife ! Stand not, 
Thy errand will the headsman's axe arrest !— 

Sab. The graces be with her!— [Exit. 

Her. [ivildlyl Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ! 

The Fates are sullen and my star is red ! 
If it be done then Mercury would speed 
In vain !— Thou, what, about the queen ? [CajJtai u enters.^ 

Cajit. A crime rebellious in its kind was just 
Committed at the Sanctuary's front. 

Her. The stars rebel, why should my subjects bear 
The yoke of tyranny on them enforced! — 
What is the deed rebellious in thine eyes ? 

Ca2}t. The eagle from the portal's top they tore, 
Incited by Matthias to revolt. 
Who deems the ensign an idolatrous, 
Abominable image; seeking fame 
In martyrdom he counts his punishment 
Would certainly involve. 

Her It is a scratch 

Disdainful to resent, while over me 
Suspended is the hand of vengeful fates.— 

That messenger's report I dread— she lives? [Enter Sabion,. 

Sab. [with downcast look] My lord— 
ffer. She lives? Say, yes! 

Sa6. [as &e/or-e] My king— ov. v ^o* 

Her. [draioing nearer, the hand on his dagger] bne lives." 



76 HEROD. 

Sab. The revocation came too late. — 

He7\ [stabbing Sabion] Liar, 
She Jives! — Open hell this murderer to receive!. 

Sab. [while Herod rushes oat\ Oh, vilest monster thou— I feel 
my death 
Is near; he struck my heart. — Hyrcanus now 
Thy frowning ghost is by this gore appeased! — 
Vile tyrant — help me Heaven— fi-iend — my wife — 
Mv children — tell them — oh, I sink. — [He dies. 

Capt. The king 

Is mad and things rush to a turn. I hear 
Some voices.— Sabion slain, of late abhorred 
By many and by others feared. — Through him, 
They said, Hyrcanus was betrayed, and he 
Betrayed his treason ere he died. — Who comes ? 

Enter Pheroras, EurycijES, Phabatus and Salome. 

Pher. The king away and Sabion in his blood, 
What happened here thou wast a witness of ? 

Capt. I stand in terror, prince, of what I saw. 
This man fell stabbed by our dreadful king. 
On bringing tidings of our queen's demise. 

Pher. And whither went the king this being done? 

Capt. In that direction rushed he in despair. 

Pher. [to Phabatus] Be near the king, I tremble for his life. 

[E.rit Phabatus. 
And, captain, thou thy quarter keep in peace 
And re-enforce thy guards, for now the night 
Descends and all is restless in the town. 
Remove this body in the twilight's dusk. — 
He died not innocent, this guileful rogue. 

\The eaptain and Enrycles remove the body. 

Sal. She is yet ruling from her grave the king. 
If he persist how may this mania end ? 

Pher. His blood is at its boiling heat, it must 
Cool down or he demented sink ; meanwhile 
The cares of state my rest disturb. From end 
To end the country is in flames, revolt 
And disaffection stirring every tribe ; 
And hydra-headed is the plotters' crowd. — 
A strong patrol this city guards to-night, 
While to the palace none can entrance have. 
Save friends disarmed and our servants known. 
No caution seems superfluous in such state 
Of things.— And thou, Salome, be the king's 
Propitious nurse. Forsake not, sister, him 
In overpowering grief. — I cannot stay. 

Sal. His fits of madness make me dread his sight; 
When these survene he knows not what he doth, 

\Phabatus re-enters. 
And life is scarce secure within his reach. 

Pher. How does the monarch ? 

Phab. Weeps, dear prince ; outstretched 

Upon the queen's pavilioned bed he groans 
And unintelligibly talking vents 
His pains.—" Mariamne, answer — guiltless- love 
And murder — " are his uttered words. — I durst 
Not budge, but quietly withdrew. 



HEROD. 7T 

Pher. The tears 

Of poignant sorrows -will his heart reheve. 
What soothing remedy could we apply 
To quell the fury of his feverish blood ? 
A wise physician could his nerves subdue 
By some ingredients known to magic art. 

Phab. I know a man who nature's secrets steals, 
And by his subtlety incurable 
Distempers cured. A word will bring him straight. 

Pher. Go in my name request the skilful man 
To use his art in quieting the king. — [Phabaius leaves. 

Thou with the Greek be present when he comes 
Am go not hence until I take thy place. — 
I charge the guards thy orders to obey. [Exit PJieroras. 

Sal. Believe or not believe a monitor 
There is in us, whose warning voice the soul 
Affrights not less than fulminating claps 
Descending fire-laden from the skies! — 
The shrew is dead, why shudder at her name 
Who from the bowels of earth can never rise 
To prove the guile of my successful scheme? 
And where I am, awake, asleep, by day, 
By night, I see my husband's bloodless face 
Distorted, ghastly, pitiful, terrific! 
Of Pluto's hellish brood the blackest in 
Her fiendish ways is Vengeance, restless, dark. 
Destructive, bloody, horrid, hateful, foul ! — 
The Greek did with his lies disgust me, though 
By me instructed he did meanly lie. 
And my achievement is to be the whoie 
Of such a scurvy liar as he is. — 
Oh Vice, I see thy varnish'd ugliness. 
But all the pathways to remorse are blocked. 
What crime is crime remains; the dead are dead 
Who through me died, but guilt weighs down my head. 
There is no pai-don for a wretch like me, 
No brand too gross for my ignominy. [Exit. 

SCENE V. 

Herod's Bedchamber. 

He is seen in a trance on his bed; around him stand a physician 
Phabatxjs, Diophantus, Salome and Eurtcles. 

Physician, [holding a case full of jnlls arid vials in hand] 
This casus puzzles my prodigious brains. 
Imbued with wisdom of the sacred pages 
Of what Asclepius taught and Egypt's sages 
In sounding man's diseases and his pains. 
How they spring up, evolve and force the breath 
Out of the mortal's frame, which fools call death; 
For in great nature's workings nothing dies. 
And earth is ever young, as are the skies. — 
With Hippocratic skill I thousands cured 
Phlegmatic humors withered for the grave. 
And if three-fourth untimely death endured. 
It was by accident through drugs I gave; 



'78 HEROD. 

The physicus his art must boldly try 

On morbid systems, though the patients die. — 

This case encloses herbs from every clime, 

Of magic power nature to revive, 

They, joined to the cure of healing time. 

Can all the morbi from the body drive ; 

But here is one which, since from Eden driven 

Mankind is sinning, is but found in heaven. — 

Let me apply it to the sufferer's head 

Whose vital current now a fever heats, 

Whose pulse, I feel, a fearful tempo beats, 

And even if he lifeless were as dead 

This medicine will in his mind create 

A wondrous stir which will, at any rate, 

Mysterious visions bring before his sight 

And soothe his sorrows with the parting night. 

[He applies the herb to Herod's head. 

And now, dear princess, let no breathing thing 

Disturb the rest of the despondent king. 

In the adjoining room you quiet keep, 

While he reposing tastes the balm of sleep. 

[Exeunt all. The lights are lowered; a strain of soft music is 
heard: on a brilliant chariot Hyrcanus. Mariamne, and 
Aristobulns icith harps in hand and dazzling wings glide by 
in the air, their smiles vaiiish at seeing Herod. TItey 
disappear ; the music ceases, whereupon thunder and light- 
ning burst from the ground, folloioed by a black creiv of 
tailed, and horned goblins yelling, laughing, and gnashing 
their teeth at Herod's sight, and vanisJiing in the dark.] 

Her. [npstarting] I sink — I fall— am lost— gracious powers, 
My soul — the goblins — dread and blackness! — Ha, 
Mariamne an angel — they I slew with her 
And I forever wretched, damned, lost !— 
No, phantom — I was dreaming; no, she lives! 
My queen lives! — This is her bed — my bed — oh 
Felicity, Mariamne's bed! — Come love, 
My angel — Ha!— Mariamne! Mariamne! — Slaves, 
My queen, where is my queen? — Mariamne, ho! 
Deserters, all asleep— I want my queen! [Eurycles enters. 

Where is my wife, my beauteous queen ? I want 
Her, call her !— Why hesitate ?— Obedience, thug ! 
Give ear for Herod speaks — am I the king ? 

Eury. My lord ! 

Her. Thou wouldst not stir— where is my queen ? 

Exiry. Thou knowest where, my king.— She will not come. 

Her. Not come if I command, beseech, implore! 
Not come if I forgive and love and kiss. 
And kneel and worship her, not come!— [Enter Salome. 

Eury. My lord, 

Her ears are deaf, she will not hear my voice. 

Sal. Oh Lord 

[Pherorus, Diophantus, Phabatus, and Corinthus Enter. 

Her. Not come! — let me talk to him — deaf 

She is, he said, and will not come, — she must, 
She will — she is not dead, my wife ? — 

Eury. She is!— 



HEROD. 79 

Her. [stabs Ein-ycles] TUis for thy evil-forging tongue — she 
lives!— [All are startled. 

Move not or he who moves will move the last ! 

Eur I/. The furies tear thy soul, ferocious brute! [He sijiks. 

I breathe the last; the freezing chills of death 
Rush through my veins, my sight grows dim — but hear 
And swallow i)oison worse than vipers spit.- - 
Thy queen, fierce monster, died without a stain ! 

Her. Ha, daggers are thy words yet speak, I hear! 
f~ Sal. Infamous liar what wilt thou forge to sting 
A credulous man ? 

Eury. Infamous wretch, thou shalt 

This time the truth hear ! — By the dreadful gods 
Who on my head Mariamne's innocence 
And fair Aristobulus' blood avenge, 
Herod, I shall the truth divulge, or may 
From Pluto's blackest regions never rise 
My soul! 

"Her. Divulge and let the furies tear 
Me now that I my seraph murderously 
Slew. Angelic image — innocent my love — 
Defamed and struck and guiltless — O, O, O ! 
My babies of their heavenly nurse bereaved, 
My sweetest, godliest, gentlest beauteous queen 
Beheaded — fallen, fallen — O, my heart! — 

[He lays his hands on liis breast in a state of extreme agony. 

Eury. She died an honest woman loyal to 
Thy bed, and he, that strumpet's husband, he 
The best was of thy choicest friends; he did 
Not what, to please thy sister. I did say. — 
She Joseph forced thy secret to divulge. 
And with her virtue paid my slanderous task. — 

Sal. Demoniac liar ! [She wants to run away. 

Her. Hold, infernal, or this 

My weapon will transpierce thy hateful breast! [To Salome. 

Woe, woe! — My dream, my fear, my queen, my love! [Wee}is. 

Eury. My time is out. — Thy wife was innocent. 
Her foe thy sister; I her instrument. 
Who shared Salome's bed while Joseph lived. 

[Euryclesdies: Salome hides herfaee; Pheroras turns away. 

Her. Chaos and darkness; — Men, why stand ye still? 
When yonder wretch I slew you stirred all 
But this enormous guilt and my sweet wife's, 
Your queen's destruction kindles not your blood. 
Arouses not your manhood to a pitch 
Of vengeance on a fiendish, horrid ghoul ! 
Ah, all the sorrows and the shame is mine. 
The Lord of heavens is a fearful Judge! — 
Mariamne, cherub, yea, thou art no more. 
The earth did swallow thy celestial frame; 
Through me they shed thy guiltless, sweetest gore, 
Thou art in Heaven, mine is dole and shame. 
But longer whelming woes I can't sustain. 
They must in madness, self-destruction end. 
For never bore one breast such loads ©f pain 
As from above upon my head descend. 
The stars, the Fates are waging war with me. 



80 HEROD. 

A broken mortal how shall I contend 

With them who strike and wound invisibly 

When with their deathful shafts they bosoms rend. — 

But if they think that Herod hath no nerves 

To breast the onslaught of malicious fates, 

They shall now find that Herod never swerves 

From grimly death and black Abaddon's gates! — 

Behold, my friends, I slew so dear a wife 

That Heaven's treasures could not pay her worth; 

I thirst for vengeance not, but hate this life 

And gracious Heaven gave us — this on earth! 

[He tries to stab himself, Pheroras falls in his arms. While the 

curtain descends a voice is heard; "He lives, a prey to<guilt- 

ful shame!" 






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